Cumbrian Christmas displays in doubt over electric bills

Despite many Christmas displays now using energy-efficient LED bulbs, the energy bill may far outweigh the amount that the household can fundraise for charity. 

Homes in the region that put up the biggest displays usually start sorting out bulbs and decorations around now but uncertainty about how much the next bill will be has meant that people are having to seriously think about whether it is viable. 

The Voakes family in Cark often put up impressive displays - but they are not sure this year

Jeremy Voakes is the owner of Archway Vets at Grange but on alternate years he puts up a display at his house in Cark to raise money for children's charity NSPCC. 

The last display was covered on Sky News and Good Morning Britain. In the twenty years that he has done it, he has raised about £30,000. 

COUPLE: Jeremy and Mandy Voakes

"It is obviously going to be a lot of money. It might cost more to run them than what we could raise," Jeremy said. 

"There is also a bit of a moral dilemma. Yes, the display raises a lot for charity, but would it be right when people have their own bills to contend with?

"It is difficult because people are going to be struggling to decide whether to put the heating on this winter, so it just doesn't seem right." 

READ MORE: Cark Christmas lights display with more than 100k bulbs will 'take months' to disassemble

Considering that the lights take the best part of two to three months to put up, it might be a lot of effort to raise less money as people cannot donate as much and then deal with a gigantic bill. 

Keith Dacre, in Dalton, said that in an average year it costs 'a few hundred pounds' in electricity to light Christmas displays. 

Last year he and his wife Sharon raised £1,470 for Furness Homeless, far above what they would have to pay in electricity bills. This year, it is a lot more contentious. 

"Thousands of people come to look at our lights," Keith said.

"We do it for our grandchildren and all the kids that come and have a look. I think that the electricity and gas companies are making lots of money that are then put onto us as consumers."