Christmas lights cancelled at Reading home due to energy bills

Around 60 plug sockets pumped electricity through 15ft tall decorations in Antrim Road for seven hours a day in December 2021 to raise money for charity.

But despite his ‘addiction’ to Christmas lights, Warren White, 56, cannot afford to maintain his collection this year.

“You can imagine what it would cost to run something like that, it would be absolutely ridiculous.”

“I will be sorry to see it go. A lot of them have been sold but there are some I’ve kept back so you never know.”

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Last year Warren spent £4,500 on decorations and energy, raising £1,200 for Chemo Gift Bags, who provide essential items to men and women with breast cancer.

“I did get a bit carried away – I was like a kid in a  sweet shop when I used to buy them and I got to the place where I started making my own.

“Last year I had a 17m cherry picker in the garden helping.

“It became an addiction in the end, not a hobby.”

Decorations ready to be turned on outside Warren's Woodley home in 2021 (Image: Warren White)

Warren began the tradition after a joke with his neighbours about installing a six-meter high penguin in his garden - which he did.

The first time he switched the collection on they blew his fuse board and two plugs out of their sockets, prompting him to install appropriate cabling.

While much of his collection has been sold to people in Arborfield and Scotland, the giant penguin will remain in Woodley, purchased by a friend of Warren’s.

“It was to see the kids’ faces. That’s how it got to me – some of the young kids would put little letters through saying thank you very much.”

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“It was good raising money for charity, it was nice that people could benefit.

“I enjoyed it. I couldn’t give it up totally. I will be a bit more low key but no doubt the word will be out when I do start putting those decorations up.”

Last year’s Chemo Gift Bags were comprised of things to help people through their chemotherapy.

They included puzzles for the waiting rooms, moisturisers for skin impacted by treatment and cushions and blankets for comfort following treatment.

The charity was founded by Lynne Shipton, from Woodley, who found she was without some essential items when she underwent chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer in 2013.