Big-hearted businessman Robbie Raggio raised more than a smile with his Christmas lights.

He also raised £2,720 from well-wishers and he believes the grand total was actually boosted by a neighbour who sent him hate mail.

Self-made millionaire Robbie decorated his detached home in Woodland Drive, Hove, with lights and a giant snowman in a chimney pot before Christmas.

People stopped to admire the eye-catching display and many parents took their children to look at it.

Robbie put up a sign and a collecting box inviting donations to help treat Rett syndrome, a debilitating condition that affects girls.

He was inspired by a friend's daughter who suffers from the condition and is a pupil at Hillside School in Portslade.

Robbie and wife Debbie were stunned when, a few days after the lights went up, they received a poison-pen letter.

It told them the display was a shocking waste of money and if they wanted to be like Americans they should go and live over there.

After we reported what happened the story was published around the world.

Robbie said: "At the time we had collected about £300 but the reaction to the story was just incredible.

"By the time the lights came down we had received 250 letters of support and donations from all over the world.

"We have raised £2,720 which we have given to Hillside School and we are now planning something really special for next year.

"Doing this has also spurred me into organising a Rett and cancer charity ball at the Hilton Metropole in Brighton, on July 21.

"It will be full of celebrities and great prizes and we hope to raise tens of thousands of pounds."