CHRISTMAS decorations outside a Menston house are fast becoming the talk of the

village.

For the last three years Peter and Gwen Hope have turned their home into a festive showground.

And this year, the couple, who are both in their 70s, are hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for the struggling Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Mr and Mrs Hope, who live in Hawksworth Drive, last year raised nearly £600 for the Air Ambulance and are hoping to do even better this year.

Mr Hope, 75, said: "We had such a good response to the decorations last year so we decided to do it again this year.

"This year we seem to have gone further up and put a bit more into it and it is quite spectacular. Every year, we build on what we had the year before.

"The air ambulance is in a desperate

situation and we just wanted to help any way we could. "It is getting quite hard for us to keep doing this, but I still want to raise money."

The decorations include flashing lights, illuminated Christmas trees and a sizeable Nativity scene complete with Mary, David, Jesus and the Three Wise Men.

The couple raised last year's money in just two collection cans, but Mr Hope said he hopes that people will be generous again this year.

"We do this mostly for a good cause and all the money we collect is desperately needed.

"The other reason we do it is for the pleasure it gives to people, and if we can give pleasure and raise money it can't be a bad thing."

He added they also started decorating their house to brighten up Menston at Christmas time.

"Menston doesn't have any Christmas lights to speak of and we thought this would cheer people up."

It takes Mrs Hope more than two days to put up the displays inside and a week for Mr Hope to build the outside show.

"We've had all sorts of comments such as 'magnificent' and 'fabulous'. Our neighbours are overwhelmed and wait for us every year to put them up," said Mr Hope.

The lights are on a timer and come on between 4pm and 10.30pm.

Mr and Mrs Hope said visitors were welcome to go along to see the decorations and

make a contribution towards the fund-raising campaign.