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Grandad spends three weeks turning his home into Christmas grotto

Published at 11:56am 2nd December 2019. (Updated at 3:36pm 2nd December 2019)

A grandfather has created a larger-than-life Christmas attraction at his home, which has welcomed a stream of visitors from across the UK.

Stan Yanetta, from South Shields, started out with just a few lights for his grandchildren, but each year his display gets bigger and bigger.

The 58-year-old, who is known for his eccentric garden, has no idea how many decorations he has lighting up the street - but he says it took him three days to sort out the plug sockets alone.

He has spent the last three weeks creating the festive exhibit, which he thinks will cost him around £15 a day to run - from 4pm to 7pm, right up until Christmas Day.

Stan says "everyone on the road is over the moon about it", adding: "Nothing else ever happens around the area and now the kids have got somewhere to go, and to come to see Santa.

Stan is collecting money for the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, for young children affected by cancer.

He will dress up as Father Christmas, pose for pictures and hand out presents each evening - and revealed he's even bought a snow machine.

"I'm going to position it over where Santa will be meeting with the kids, so I can press a button and make it snow. It's going to be magical," he said.

He claims his young grandchildren "love" the decorated house and visits from Santa, adding: "Last year they didn't realise I was Santa and were asking where I had disappeared to."

And it is not just across the UK where people are getting festive and going big on decorating their homes.

People from across the world, including America and South Africa, have begun posting pictures and videos on social media of their own elaborate displays.