Canberra man's bright idea set for record books

A Canberra man can expect a bigger-than-usual electricity bill in the new year on top of the usual Christmas expenses after erecting a 331,038-light Christmas display outside his home.

News.com.au reported that Canberra father David Richards put together the display in a bid to claim the Guinness world record for the biggest Christmas lights display with 27km of lights.

News.com.au said Richards used 29,630m of LED strings, 15,000 cable ties and one 18m light-controlled tree to become the first to hold the record for the largest outdoor light display.

The website said Richards was confident he would make the record books after Guinness World Records told him his display would have to surpass 250,000 lights.

"The lights I started four years ago with one string above the door and then I took it a bit further some would say," Richards told news.com.au

"The Guinness world record came about when I'd just finished putting them up and my nephew's girlfriend said, 'why don't you get it in the Guinness world records'."

The public can see the display for a gold coin donation. All money raised will go to children's charity the Sids and Kids foundation which Richards said had helped his family through a difficult time in the past.

Richards said he would not do it all again next year, but hoped to be able to donate the lights to someone else who would continue to use them to raise money for Sids and Kids.