There’s a magical winter wonderland at hospice supporter Dave Edwards’ house as he’s switched on 25,000 Christmas lights to raise money for two charities over the festive period.

Dave and his family have lit up their home and garden in Cheltenham Drive, Bromford, in the hope of collecting £1,000 for Birmingham’s John Taylor Hospice and the Alzheimer’s Society in Birmingham and Solihull.

The 26-year-old business owner has held his own illuminations for more than a decade and his sparkling displays have raised thousands of pounds for charities.

This is the third time Dave has chosen John Taylor Hospice to be a beneficiary of the extravaganza which features penguins, snowmen, reindeer, polar bears and, of course, Father Christmas.

It takes months of planning and weeks of installation to launch the spectacle which also includes a programmed light show in time to popular festive hits. The lights show is open until 1 January and all Dave asks in return is a donation to the chosen charities.

“I started working on it at the beginning of October but I don’t mind - it’s worth it because so many people enjoy it,” said Dave. “It all stems from a love of lights as a child. We used to go around and see people’s lights as a family and then we got one set, then two sets – and now we have 25,000 lights!”

Dave held his first illuminated extravaganza when he was just a teenager and each year he adds a little extra. And he’s keen for his hard work to raise money for local charities.

“This year’s I’ve chosen John Taylor Hospice and the Alzheimer’s Society, both for personal reasons because friends and family have been supported by them,” he said.

“We’d love as many people as possible to come and the lights will be on every day until 1 January. If we’re here, we will also open the garden so people can come in but, if not, you can still see them over the fence. The lights and music show is until 8pm and then the lights stay on until 10pm. I’m hoping to raise £1,000 this year so we’d ask everyone, if they can, to donate.”

John Taylor Hospice Community Fundraising Manager Kerry McGrath urged local people to support Dave’s efforts. “Dave does an amazing job putting the lights show together and raising so much money for worthy causes including his local hospice John Taylor,” she said. “We are really grateful to him for choosing to support John Taylor Hospice again – his hard work is helping us make all the difference for local families.”

Dave is one of many people across the city supporting John Taylor’s Gift a Christmas campaign which is aiming to raise £15,000 – enough to pay for all of the hospice’s services on Christmas Day.

As well as visiting Dave’s lights, people can support Gift a Christmas in a host of ways including buying hospice Christmas cards, holding a Christmas Jumper Day, organising a festive coffee morning or making donations in lieu of cards.

Ferry operator DFDS won a silver award in the Consumer Relations Campaign category at the CIPR Pride Awards for the North East, which was hosted in Newcastle on Friday 8 December.

The company won the accolade for its 'Freedom of Ferry Travel' campaign, which saw professional Red Bull and extreme sports free runners perform a series of stunts and free running tricks on board one of its Newcastle-Amsterdam ferries.

More than 950 entries were submitted for the awards from 337 companies, 604 campaigns, 14 teams and 48 individuals across the UK. The winners were selected by a panel of expert public relations professionals.

Michelle Ulyatt, PR Manager for DFDS, said: “We're thrilled to have won a silver award in the CIPR Pride Awards this year. The Freedom of Ferry Travel campaign was a huge success for us and we're delighted that it has gained recognition from industry experts.”

In mid-2016, DFDS identified an opportunity to attract a younger audience in the North East of England to the concept of travelling from the UK to continental Europe via ferry. Alongside their PR agency Rooster PR, the ferry operator looked at trends and content that had tended to go viral amongst that market and identified a campaign to target this audience.

Partnering with specialist film producers All Conditions Media and free runners Ryan Doyle (Red Bull) and Will Sutton (extreme sports), Rooster created a storyboard that allowed the athletes to show off their skills while showcasing the variety of services and facilities provided on DFDS' ferries.

The film achieved more than 117,000 views, raising awareness of the ferry brand. The content was featured in key regional, travel trade and specialist media titles, with a combined reach of 13,244,388.

With Christmas around the corner, Edinburgh's landmark building at the top of the Royal Mile is Christmas ready.

The 12 foot Christmas tree in Cafe Hub provides a cheery atmosphere welcoming visitors to celebrate the holiday season with a festive themed afternoon tea for two, including seasonal favourites like homemade mince pies.

The new offering, designed for two people, offers the perfect opportunity to relax and take stock following a day of Christmas shopping on Edinburgh's Royal Mile and Old Town.

To accompany the delicate festive treats, guests can choose from a selection of artisan loose teas including earl grey, apple and cinnamon, Scottish rooibos, chocolate chilli explosion or freshly ground coffee.  The afternoon tea can also be enjoyed with a glass of prosecco.

Head Chef Denis Zominy said: “Afternoon tea sits between lunch and dinner just like The Hub sits between the castle and Holyrood Palace. When you need a little holiday indulgence at the half-way point we have the place to do it, and now the perfect refreshment as well.”

Vegetarian and gluten-free options are also be available if booked in advance.

Also on the festive menu for the holiday season is mulled wine, to warm up in this winter weather, coffee and two mince pies, and a apple winter warmer as a non-alcoholic alternative.

A limited number of VIP tickets have gone on sale for the unmissable Christmas at Blenheim light trail. The special VIP package available from 22 – 23 December includes Fast Track Entry, First Entry onto the Trail, Exclusive VIP Packing at Flagstaff Car Park and Mulled Wine/ Hot Chocolate on the trail.

The VIP package, £50 per person, is available for the 4pm slot only on Friday 22 December and Saturday 23 December and must be purchased in advance.

Following fantastic reviews, the finest view in England is aglow once more until 1 January 2018. Blenheim Palace's 2000 acres of 'Capability' Brown landscape and Formal Gardens has been transformed into an illuminated wonderland with incredible projections, immersive soundscapes and interactive scenes.

The magical trail winds through the landscape, highlighting Blenheim Palace's rich history, all with the magic and wonder of the festive season. New and returning visitors can expect to see the trail take a different path, allowing them to discover and interact with the festive scenes and seasonal experiences in a new way.

The trail once more winds along the Great Lake, which will have four different scenes of floating brilliance including 300 illuminating boats crossing from side to side.

The iconic lake will also feature a giant Ducal crown, based on the Duke of Marlborough's own formal crown. The magnificently lit crown will tower above the audience with a 20m fountain erupting from its centre.

Once more the rushing Cascades will be transformed into a festive wonder, this time the giant waterfall will be covered in flames!

Enchanting for all, the creative take on Santa's toy workshop will see the Palace's lakeside Boathouse become a hive of activity. A small pause along the path with allow visitors to hear the sounds of elves busying away making toys for Santa to deliver on his sleigh on Christmas Eve.

The trail has been specially designed for visitors of all ages to enjoy. The Great Outdoors made magical.

At this time of the year, I’m normally preoccupied by working out what football games I’m covering for Radio 5 Live, and how much time I can get off to enjoy myself. The usual self-absorbed attitude of an adult not distracted by serious family concerns over health.

But this December, I’m glad to be able to raise my game, lift the scales from my eyes and consider how stressful Christmas can be for so many – thanks to a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

Any decent individual will say all the right things about Christmas being such a taxing period for families visiting loved ones in hospital. We acknowledge it really isn’t the ‘Season To Be Jolly’ for them, thank goodness it doesn’t affect us – but what do we do about it? How many of us do something practical, instead of mouthing platitudes?

Well, here’s your chance to help some of the 100,000 patients that will be at QEHB over this festive period. Just £1 would go towards a pot of money that would provide some solace to those who have to be in hospital at the worst possible time.

There are so many fund-raising projects buzzing around at QEHB that will support all manner of people this festive period.

Throughout December, children will receive gruelling radiotherapy treatment for five days a week over six weeks. Every one of those will be given a toy from around the Christmas tree in the Radiotherapy Unit. Each floor of the hospital will have a tree, there’ll be hampers full of goodies to share around on the wards for those at the hospital on Christmas Day

Patients in hospital on Christmas Day can watch their favourite TV programmes free of charge, and car parking will be free, so that visitors can stay with their loved ones as long as they like on that special, emotional day.

Some young children will be bewildered and frightened by the unfamiliarity of being in hospital and will simply cling to their parents for solace. Others who are older will be only too aware of what challenges they are facing. The Teenage Cancer Trust Young Persons Unit at QEHB provides support for young people from the age of 16 to 24. They will know what lies ahead and why their treatment has to continue, no matter what day of the year it is.

But they won’t be forgotten on their ward, which will be handsomely decorated with gifts for everyone. Hopefully, it will be a distraction for them, alongside their families.

So here’s the nub of the matter. All this costs money. This year QEHB Charity’s Christmas Campaign hopes to raise £25,000 to fund some marvellous ways of helping so many get through their period in hospital at such an emotional time.

There are so many ways you can get involved and help to bring Christmas to the hospital.

The superb Birmingham Hospitals Carol Service is at St Philip’s Cathedral on 14 December, starting at 7pm. Festive songs, mulled wine, mince pies, serenaded by community choirs from around Birmingham.

Friday December 15 is Festive Jumper Day – a chance to look very silly at work, while raising money. Show off your favourite Christmas jumper at your school or office – the more gaudy the better! – and donate £1 to QEHB Charity’s Christmas Campaign.

The Twelve Choirs of Christmas in the atrium will be only too pleased to keep singing carols, as long as you fill up the tins. They will be singing throughout the month of December, raising spirits and smiles in the hospital.

The Christmas Hub in the atrium will provide complete fundraising advice, as well as selling a wide range of Christmas merchandise.

If any companies want to get involved in the Christmas Campaign, they can sponsor a floor of the hospital for the Yuletide period. For £1,000 your company will have its logo on the Christmas tree and the hampers will also provide due acknowledgement.

Alternatively, for £250 your company could sponsor one of the twelve Christmas choirs throughout December, and help out with the bucket collection whilst they sing. In return, your company will be recognised on the Christmas Campaign website.

There’s a JustGiving page at qehbchristmas.org where you can make donations and read about

So why not support this valuable cause? I can guarantee that so many dedicated staff at QEHB, some of whom I met during my visit, would be hugely grateful for your generosity. Let’s together, make a difference to the lives of patients at QEHB this Christmas.

To learn more about the Christmas Campaign or to donate please go to qehbchristmas.org