THE lights of a much-loved festive attraction have been switched off for good after eight years of fundraising.

The family behind the annual Gipsy Lane Santa event in aid of the Prospect Hospice have announced that they will not be continuing their Christmas extravaganza in 2011.

The yearly display saw Jayne, John and Robert Flatt covering their house in lights, running a shop in their garden, and John dressing up as Father Christmas, raising a total of £37,883 for the charity over the years.

Jayne, 44, said they had enjoyed running the event but felt it was time to finish.

“It took months and months to decide and it was a really hard decision to make,” she said.

“We are sad but also we are glad we are finishing, it’s just too much work for us now putting all the lights up and being out there every night.

“This year we really struggled, I don’t know if it was because it was so cold.

“Even putting the stuff out this year didn’t feel quite the same.

“When we started putting it all out we said we can’t cope with it any more.

“We slept most of Christmas because we were just so exhausted.”

The family started putting the lights up in October ever year and Jayne thinks they have spent tens of thousands of pounds on Christmas decorations and lights over the years.

They have been selling off their lights and Jayne said they are nearly all gone.

“I think we will all miss it without a doubt,” she said.

“A lot of people have said they are quite upset. We will still do a fun day for the hospice in the summer.”

The family started the project after Jayne’s stepmother died while in the care of the Wroughton-based hospice and Jayne said she hopes another family in the town will start a similar event.

A spokesman for the Prospect Hospice said: “The Flatts really are an amazing family.

“I don’t think people really appreciate how much hard work goes into organising the Gipsy Lane Santa, both beforehand and on the nights running up to Christmas.

“The Flatts work tirelessly every year simply to raise money for us, and we can’t thank them enough for everything they do.

“We’re looking forward to working with them on their family fun day later in the summer.”