text: The father branded a 'pikey' during a neighbourhood row over Christmas lights will defiantly switch them on tonight. Kevin Franklin, of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, says he will switch his lights on every evening in April for Autism Awareness Month. Mr Franklin's 15-year-old son Bradley is autistic and the family want to use his Christmas light show to raise awareness for charities working with those with the disability. Kevin Franklin will light up his Christmas lights on the front of his home tonight for Autism Awareness Month . The 53-year-old father put the lights up on his council house last November in preparation for Christmas. But he didn't take them down in January because he wanted to switch the lights on again in April for Autism Awareness Month. The continued presence of the lights in recent weeks has angered some neighbours, prompting a poison pen letter last month. It read: 'I am fed up of seeing your grotesque tacky council house Christmas lights. It is March, for goodness sake. Your house leaves this lovely community looking a disgrace. 'It looks like a state. It sticks out like a sore thumb. I don't want to keep driving past this eyesore, every time I do, my kids scream. I know you live in a council house, but there's no need to make it look like one.' The letter finished 'Yours sincerely, a very disgruntled citizen.' The father kept them up after Christmas ahead of autism week, prompting anger from some neighbours . The continued presence of the light, prompted one local resident to write this abusive message to Mr Franklin . Mr Franklin, who has been medically retired from work after suffering two strokes and a heart attack, said today: 'I will be putting on the lights tonight when it gets dark and switch them off again around 10pm. This will happen throughout April for Autism Awareness Month. 'That was always my plan and it's why, back in January, I decided not to take them down because I knew I would be putting them up again in April. 'I would have taken the lights down after April but now I'm going to leave them on the house out of principle, but I won't be turning them on again until December 2.' The former publican added: 'It's been blown out of all proportion and has turned into a row between council house tenants and those who own their properties. 'Some people think we are scum because we rent, but my house looks a lot tidier than some of those that have been bought by the occupants. 'We are all human beings and the only difference is they have bought their pile of bricks and I rent mine.' He says his nearest neighbours support him in his idea to raise awareness of charities. He added: 'I've even heard some neighbours saying they will donate to charity and I've been told that some people around Dunstable may even put up their own Christmas lights in support.' He said he planned to take them down next month, but now will keep them up 'out of principle'
target: Father of autistic teenager kept Christmas lights up to raise awareness .
  But angry neighbour sent him abusive letter branding them 'an eyesore'
  He now plans to switch them on to support Autism Awareness Month .
  Former publican says he'll keep them up until next year 'out of principle'