A Chesterfield couple have turned their house into a winter wonderland complete with statues of reindeer, polar bears and penguins in a bid to raise money for charity.

For the past six years, Malcolm and Lesley Muldoon from Ankerbold Road, Tupton, have decked their house with lights, from top to bottom, in the hope that as many people as possible will pay them a visit and leave a small donation. As many as 25,000 bulbs light up the Christmas display on the house and in the garden.

Since 2004 the pair have raised about £8,000 with their Christmas displays, which is split between three local charities: Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity, Ashgate Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity is particularly close to the Muldoon's hearts, as Malcolm was treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, at the hospital following diagnosis in 2004.

Malcolm, 67, the main organiser of the Christmas lights, said: "This is our sixth year of putting on the lights to help raise funds for the local charities. We have a target of £1,500 which we achieved in 2009 and hope to repeat this year.

"We wanted to give something back to the charities that provided me with care. Weston Park Hospital is a wonderful place which helped me enormously during my fight against cancer.

"I am now in remission and just have annual check ups but we want to continue to help others with cancer by supporting the charity.

"Credit also goes out to my friend Terry Wildsmith, who helps us put everything up, despite being the same age as me and recently undergoing a triple heart bypass."

Malcolm and Lesley pay for all of the decorations themselves and try to buy something new to add to the display each year. Malcolm also makes the display even more spectacular by dressing up as Santa and giving the children who visit a little present.

Catherine Rhone, senior fundraiser at Weston Park Cancer Charity, said: "Christmas is a time of festivities and celebration and Malcolm and Lesley's generosity at this special time of year is greatly appreciated.

"They are a fantastic couple who have supported us for a number of years now, and we are sure that the display is even more outstanding this year and definitely worth paying a visit!"

The lights will be switched on throughout December until January 6 and everyone is welcome to go and visit.

www.wphcancercharity.org.uk.