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An Australian man has set a world record by illuminating a Christmas tree in the capital Canberra with 518,838 twinkling lights.

Aussie smashes Christmas tree record.

Aussie smashes Christmas tree record. Image by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo / CC BY 2.0

Guinness World Records confirmed that David Richards broke the record for the most lights on an artificial Christmas tree that had been held for five years by Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.

Mr Richards, a Canberra lawyer and businessman, brought together a team of volunteers including an electrical engineer, structural engineer, welders, carpenters, masons and steel fixers to erect the display on a 22-metre (72-foot) steel tree. He creates such Christmas extravaganzas to raise money for Canberra’s Sudden Infant Death Syndrome charity.

(Press Association)