A GIANT glowing reindeer, snowmen and Santas as well as hundreds of lights will entertain families visiting a popular charity display in Rushwick.

After much preparation the switch will finally be flicked on at the popular display in the gardens of 66 Christine Avenue at 6pm on Saturday, December 16.

Mick and Norma Gale, aged 69, open up the back garden of their home every Christmas to raise money for Midlands Air Ambulance, and over the last 14 years they have raised thousands of pounds for the charity.

Last year, the event raised £1,250 in just two weeks and this year the couple hope to smash that figure by raising £2,000.

"This year we would like to beat it and raise more for this such deserving cause," 68-year-old Mick said.

"We would like to raise £2,000, hopefully. We have a 10 foot blow up reindeer, eight foot Santas and eight foot snowmen. It is fantastic - people come and visit the garden and leave a donation."

He added: "We have been doing this for about fifteen years - we used to choose a different charities to support but the Air Ambulance is close to our hearts and is not publicly funded.

"At first we were raising about £80 - then we got known and every year it has gone up and up.

"Years ago, we used to open up our garden in the summer to show off the flowers for charity.

"A friend once said to me when I was putting my Christmas lights up- 'why don't you put them up a the back of the house as well.'"

The couple's son Adam and his partner Emily manage a website for the event, which can be found at santasgarden.co.uk as well as a Santa's Garden Facebook page which will be updated with news and whether there will be closures due to bad weather.

After this Saturday's switch on, the garden will be open every night from 6pm to 10pm until Wednesday, December 27.