IS this the most festive house in the counties of Sussex?

Thousands of twinkling lights, a five foot snowman and an army of reindeer are decking the halls of the Farnes family home in Hangleton.

Michael Farnes, 52, spends his whole year planning the monumental display and an entire month getting ready for the switch on.

Now he’s already starting to plan the display for Christmas 2015.

His wife Lyn, 50, said: “It started off with just a row of icicles one year. Then the next year we got a reindeer and he said ‘I could make one of those’. He’s been making those ever since. Two more last year and two this year. He’ll keep going until he’s got a full set.”

For eight years crowds have flocked to see the amazing display in Amberly Drive that keeps getting bigger.

Mother of 11 and grandmother of ten Mrs Farnes does not think they will ever have enough decorations.

She said: “We get more every year. This year we’ve got a new seven foot Christmas tree and a five foot snowman.

“A lot of them need replacing every year.

“I don’t know how much we’ve spend on all the decorations. Michael makes a lot of them himself. He just loves it.

“People think the electricity bill would be huge but it’s not as much as you think. It’s probably an extra £50 for the month, but it’s worth it for the kids.

“All our neighbours expect it now and the children are always asking: ‘When will the lights be on?’ “We have a big family so it’s nice to have a big Christmas – but we rarely get all the children and grandchildren together at once because there isn’t room for them all – especially with all the reindeers as well.”

Mrs Farnes is hoping to get much of her brood together for a big Christmas at home this year.

This year they will be raising money for the Portslade-based Lost Cats and Kitty in the City charities.