Smiles on children’s faces are the reason one man devotes his own time, money and imagination to creating a fantastic display of festive lights outside his Margate home every Christmas.

Crowds gather and children queue at dusk to turn on the lights in the fantastical and magical show at Rick Marsh’s Byron Avenue home, shown to full festive effect in showers of artificial snow.

Pride of place goes to a large winter wonderland layout in a cabinet, complete with electric train, musical boxes a carousel, ferris wheel, and skiing Santas, all set in a tiny town.

This year a crowd of about 40 people gathered for the switch on, with neighbour’s children Zacoiya Brewster, three, and Jess, flipping the switches.

Zacoiya’s dad, web designer Pete Brewster, said: “Rick really does do a great job and he really does deserve a bit of attention to show him how we all appreciate the time and effort he puts in.”

Rick, 57, has been creating Christmas light displays at home for about 15 years. Every season they are developed to become bigger, better and more elaborate.

This year he took two weeks off work at Stand-Fast, Cliftonville, to devote to the task, completed with a visit from an electrician to ensure all is in order.

Rick, himself a father and grandfather, said: “I get great pleasure from doing it. When I see the children coming home from school and looking at it, it makes the day for me. You can’t put a price on the smiles on kids’ faces.”

Each year he adds new features. If he runs out of space, his neighbours have offered their properties as a way of developing the display.

His handiwork can be seen from 4.30-9.30pm every evening.