Braintree family puts up 25,000 Christmas lights for charity

The O’Brien family house has become known in Black Notley for its annual luminous festivity.

Last year their decorations featured a whopping 18,000 fairy lights, 52 flashing wall signs, and 16 inflatables.

This year, dad Graham, 42, is aiming for 30,000 lights as he covers the front, side, and rooftop of his home.

Dazzling - The O'Brien household is known for its festive lights (Image: Claudia Bradley, Newsquest) He said: “We’re very excited about this year. There’s a lot more lights going up, and at the moment I’ve put up 24,000 with more to come.

“We’ve got an inflatable of Santa on a helicopter down here too.

“We want everyone to come round, get together, and watch it all go on.

“It’s going to be a really good night.”

In the O’Brien household, Christmas begins on November 1.

Graham said: “I’ve been watching Christmas films and listening to Christmas music – I’m in the Christmas spirit already, so putting it up is easy.

“I love putting it up, I really do. It’s great.”

Happy - Graham and Sharn's whole family love Christmas (Image: Newsquest) Graham will be up and down the ladder from about 8am to 3pm every day for the next two weeks getting ready for the big switch-on.

The switch will be flipped by Santa himself, who will be handing out presents to kids.

There will also be a giant snow machine kicking off the fundraiser.

Mum Sharn, 37, is excited for the switch-on as the whole family is coming, with their seven children donning Christmas aprons and elf outfits to man a stall of hot chocolate, sweets and homemade cookies.

Decorations - The lights and flashing signs have started going up (Image: Newsquest) Sharn said: “It’s always excitable this time of year because it doesn’t matter what year you’ve had, it brightens up your year.

“I love it because all the kids get involved and we all make the sweet bags and get ready together.

“It brings the family and everyone else together.

Dedicated - Graham hires out a cherry picker machine to get the lights up on the roof (Image: Newsquest) “We just love Christmas. It’s one thing we all love," she added. 

Graham and Sharn will be donating to CARA, National Autistic Society and nearby church, St Peter’s and St John’s, where they got married earlier this year.

They will be switching the lights on at 5pm on Saturday, November 30, with guests welcome from around 4.15pm.

To donate to their fundraiser, search 'Charity light switch on event' in Go Fund Me, set up by Sharni and Graham O'Brien.