It's been reported by a Neighbourhood Community Vigilante Action Group in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, that a family on the city's Woodhouse Estate have already put up Christmas decorations outside their house - despite there still being more than 362 days to Christmas!
Al Mope, of the Group, said:
"It's nice that people want to decorate their properties for the benefit of their communities, but we feel it's just a bit to early. November is about the best time."
Others on the estate were less understanding. One man said:
"I was just coming home from the pub, when I looked up and saw this dirty, great Christmas tree in next-door's garden. I mean, come on! There's a time for everything, and the time for that is Christmas!"
The house next door was strewn with brightly-coloured lights of all colours and sizes, lanterns, and a Santa's sleigh being pulled by reindeer across the side of the house. In the garden, was a beautiful Norwegian spruce festooned with lighted baubles, and dotted here and there with gift boxes and tiny walking sticks.
Betty Shapplethwaite, head of the famous local launderette empire, said:
"It's all very nice, but some people just like to show off, don't they? They like to be the first."
