CROWDS again flocked to Greenfield Road on Saturday for the ceremonial switch-on of the ‘Farnham Christmas House’, raising vital funds for Shooting Star Chase’s hospices for terminally ill children.

Gail Whattingham, 70, and her family have raised more than £25,000 for an array of charities over the past two-and-a-half decades by elaborately decorating their house and garden at Greenfield Road every Christmas.

Since the late 80s they have amassed a collection of more than 100,000 bulbs, including Christmas trees, stars, angels, Santas, reindeers and even an illuminated model train set, earning a place in Farnham folklore.

After a few technical glitches, the Mayor of Farnham, John Ward, did the honours on Saturday - switching on the lights for a 28th time in front of a large gathering of families.

These included the family of Bella Richards, a little girl with Cri du Chat syndrome, an extremely rare genetic condition affecting around one in 50,000 babies a year, supported by Shooting Star Chase’s hospice in Guildford.

Bella’s mum Katie told The Herald: “I can’t believe Gail does all of that for charity. She’s an incredible woman, so selfless. We got talking on Facebook last year after her last display for Shooting Star Chase, and it was really nice to go up and see what she was doing.”

This year’s display was only made possible after a campaign was launched in October to replace many of Gail’s lights badly damaged by bad weather last Christmas.

The campaign, led by Lee Moran of Moran Roofing, more than doubled its £500 target within a month - thanks largely to a £500 donation by Farnham Round Table - allowing the Whattinghams to replenish their display just in time for this Christmas.

Gail’s son Elliot said ahead of the big switch-on: “We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has kindly donated through the page that Lee Moran set up.

“We have seen first hand the challenges that families face and the work these hospices do across the country is vital. So please know that what you have already done is the first Christmas miracle - well done and thank you!”

Donations to Shooting Star Chase can be posted through Gail’s letterbox at 82 Greenfield Road or made online at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/GailsChristmasLights.

The lights will be switched on between around 4.30pm and 9.30pm daily until January 2.