IN PICTURES: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Walsall family home

The town centre's lights may not be switched on until December 3 but they are already blazing away at the home of Leamore resident Gary Groves.

The 45-year-old father and step-father to seven, said he had decorated his home at Bagnall Street, Leamore for almost a decade but had made the extra effort in the last few years after his youngest child Thomas, aged four, had been ill.

Mr Groves told the Express & Star: "He was really ill when he was about 18 months old. We almost lost him.

"He was in a coma and his heart stopped but from that he has come out of it perfect.

"You love and cherish all of your kids but something like that makes you realise how precious a child's life is.

"You just want to make every day special but especially Christmas."

The efforts of Mr Groves, a professional boxer, have not gone unnoticed and every year hundreds of people from all over the Black Country make festive pilgrimages to the home to get into the seasonal spirit.

A laser light which explodes into stars is among the new additions making this year's display bigger and better than before.

"It started just for the kids in the street, but then they told people on the estate and word just spread from there," Mr Groves said.

"I have had people from Brierley Hill bring their kids, from Bridgnorth.

"It just puts a bit of magic back into kids' lives that we had when we were young.

"I go out there in my Santa outfit and they love it, for a few minutes they feel like a kid.

"People say kids grow up too fast but that's because they are forced to now."

Mr Groves also said that he simply did it for enjoyment rather than a way of raising money something.

He added: "Some people say they thought it was for charity and ask me where the donation tin is, but I tell them 'It's just for you lot, that's the only charity I need."