It might not be the "real thing" but the holidays are coming and a mum is hoping her replica Coca-Cola truck will help her win the title of the UK's biggest Christmas lights display.

Zoe Murphy, from Gillingham, has been collecting and swapping decorations with people from around the world for almost three years.

And she hopes her hard work will pay off after entering Illumination Street – a UK-wide competition for the largest display in the country.

The 40-year-old put her first display on last year, at her mum's house, and ended up raising almost £2,000 for charity.

She said: "It was the first time we ever did it and the amount of people that came to look at them was unbelievable.

"Everybody said to me not to go too big for my first display, so what did I do? I went massively over the top.

"The display was huge – so this year I knew I needed to make it better."

Zoe spent almost £1,000 building a Coca-Cola truck, which is completely handmade, and they have gone with a polar theme, with polar bears and penguins.

She is part of a big Facebook group where people swap their Christmas decorations, and Zoe also swaps with people in other countries.

"I dread to think how much I've spent since the start," she said. "It looks like a lot but where we get English decorations I swap with my American friends.

"So they get all the new Disney stuff that we don't get over here so they go running to the shops as soon as they're out, get me all the collection and then I send them all our English stuff.

"We've also made a big castle with soldiers all around it and have a Santa and sleigh ride."

Like last year, they are raising money for childhood cancer charity My Shining Star, which is based in Rainham.

They will have a postbox outside the house where people can donate, and she has also set up a JustGiving page.

"We're also collecting food for the local food bank as well," she said.

"Obviously with all the bills going up we thought even if they bring a little tin of beans along it's something to help someone else."

Zoe says she had to pester her mum to let her use her house, in Kingsway, Gillingham, as it is perfect for Christmas lights due to its shape.

She said: "My house is all concrete outside but her house is a long flat bungalow with a massive front so it's perfect.

"One year, she said 'Sod it we'll do it' and when I started getting all the stuff and putting it in her garage she was like 'We've not got enough room' but now she loves it.

"We have kids go up there twice a day to look at them. It's free and they can come whenever.

"It's addictive seeing how happy the kids are when they come to look at them – it's just so many."

The lights will be switched on at 6pm on November 27, at 52 Kingsway, in Gillingham.

Zoe will find out the result of the Illumination Street contest in the middle of December.

She added: "We're in it to win it. I'm determined.

"All this year we've worked our socks off to get everything, so I'm hoping that we win."