Hunwick family's Halloween light display returns for fourth year

While most of us are carving a pumpkin to put on the doorstep, the Stonebanks in Hunwick, near Bishop Auckland, are donning their home with thousands of LEDs to create a spooky spectacle.

Planning for the display, now in its fourth year, takes months with more than £2,000 worth of technology powering it.

The impressive display will be running constantly on Halloween. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) It draws in big crowds in the run up to Halloween, with dad Brad, 51, spending hours in the run up choreographing the lights to music.

Despite having no experience the Sky engineer taught himself how to programme the lights using software like that used in TV studios, on stage, and at concerts.

He designs each light show to music using his computer which shows him a CGI version of how it will look on his home. He then runs it for real on his house from a mini Raspberry Pi computer.

Brad says the light show costs less than £10 to run. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) The idea came from daughter Megan, 16, who kicked off the now-annual spooktacular after watching videos on YouTube of American homes four years ago.

Those wishing to catch a glimpse can see it at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm from Wednesday (October 30), and continuously from 6pm on Halloween itself (October 31).

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Recommended reading:

• A spooky guide to half-term Halloween events programme across the region
• Prisoner found dead in jail 'would have survived if diabetes checks done'
• The 'half-man half-beast' who has roamed Hexham and haunted families for decades

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access for five months for just £5, or get 40% off an annual subscription with our latest offer. Click here.

It can be found on Oakfields, Hunwick, County Durham, but anyone driving to watch is asked to park in the village a short walk away, and not block the street for neighbours.

The family hope to raise hundreds of pounds for charity Bringing Back a Smile with donation boxes in their garden.

Vikki Stonebanks-Rhodes, whose husband Brad designs the lights, said: “We will again be running this show to raise funds for Bringing Back A Smile, a very worthy charity, so if you could spare some loose change there will be a donation box and anything you can spare will be gratefully received.”