A SPECTACULAR Christmas display in Stonehouse is once again lighting up the town, with this year's bigger than ever before - and still raising money for good causes.

Without fail each year Jo and Vere Morley of Chaffinch Court transform their front garden into a winter wonderland, footing the bill for all of the electrics themselves.

They also have a blanket of snow thanks to international special effects company Snow Business, which provides snow and winter effects for TV shows and film.

Why do the Morleys do it? Because they love spreading Christmas cheer, of course.

"Anyone can knock on the door and we'll put the snow machine on," explained Jo.

"It's just great seeing all the kids faces as they have a look round."

But aside from delighting children from far and wide - people actually start ringing them excited to hear whether all the lights are up yet - the Morleys use their display to raise money for charity, collecting cash via an old fashioned postbox with a notice detailing the annual cause nearby to the decorations.

This year they are fundraising for Gloucestershire Royal Hospital's maternity and special care units because of the staff's great work helping to bring their 22nd grandchild into the world this year.

"We've raised around £100 so far!" said Jo.

Last year they chose Help the Heroes, raising £300, and previous charities over the roughly six years they have put up the display include the Rainbow Trust and Cancer Research.

Their first cause was The Shrubberies School, where Jo used to work.

The Morley's are very confident they have the biggest display in Stonehouse, though they think fierce competition in parts of Gloucester have the title of biggest in the county.

New additions to this year's display, many parts of which have to be brought in at night and when it rains, include a festive train, a mirror surrounded by snow to replicate a frozen pond, a Santa with his legs sticking out of a chimney and a very cute polar bear.

If you are wondering where they store it all the rest of the year, they have previously relied on a big cupboard and the attic - but now their daughter is having to lend some space for all the spillover.

"It's getting quite crowded now," said Jo.