Karl Hamlet, 53, a garage maintenance and MOT assistant, wants to bring Christmas cheer to his local community and beyond following a challenging year.

After two to three weeks of decorating his house, Karl switched on all the lights on Sunday, November 29.

And now his display is helping to raise vital funds for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, who Karl worked alongside when he worked with the St John Ambulance service.

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Karl said: "This is the third year I have done this but I included more lights this year as we all need some Christmas cheer, especially as there's no Christmas Tree Wonderland this year.

"A couple came round last night (Wednesday, December 2), and said they were so pleased that this has kept going as kids have nothing to else look forward to at the moment. It’s great for people going out to look for Christmas lights."

Since Karl turned the display on, there have been over 200 visitors who have admired his Christmas handiwork, with people travelling from Ringwood, Christchurch and St Catherine's Hill.

He said: "When people walk past you can see their excitement by the looks on their faces, they’re just loving it. I do this to see the joy on people’s faces, it's especially for kids."

When discussing fundraising for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Karl said: "The air ambulance team are a remarkable bunch, and we've raised up to £86 so far, which I did not expect. This time last year we had only raised about £15 to £20 in a week."

He added: "Everyone’s welcome but be aware that you must keep the two metre distance from other people. If I go out to talk to people, I always wear a mask. You’ve got to be safe at the moment."