When is too early to put up Christmas decorations?

Bells on this street are already jingling all the way

The lights are up, trees are everywhere and it seems the festive spirit is already getting into full swing - a full five weeks before the big day itself.

But some say there is a sense that the Christmas build-up has started earlier than ever this year, with bells jingling and mince pies on the shelves even before the Bonfire Night smoke cleared.

With the mulled wine on standby and a sprig of mistletoe already pinned above the door, the BBC spoke to a range of people who have already decked out their homes in festive decorations.

Claire Powell's home is all set with three trees in different rooms

Claire Powell, who lives in Worsley, Greater Manchester, with her husband and two daughters aged 11 and 15, said: "We normally go mid-November just to make the most of it.

"If you enjoy it then why not? I love it."

She said three years ago the family invested in Nordic-style traditional decorations which they now use each year.

"We will probably have them for the next 20 years," she said.

She has already put up three trees in her home.

"When it's cold and starts to go bit dark the twinkly lights just make you feel better," she said.

"If it makes you happy then why not put them up?"

Claire Powell and her husband Darren start Christmas preparations in November

Another one of Claire Powell's lovingly-decorated Christmas trees

Joanne Kinsey, who lives in Aughton, Lancashire, with her husband and three teenage children, said she has had her decorations up since the second week in November.

The family have a tree in the living room, one in the kitchen and one in the garden - and the three children even have mini trees in their bedrooms.

The Christmas table mats are already out and Ms Kinsey said the frankincense and myrrh-fragranced candles were helping to create a cosy glow.

"Once we get Halloween out of the way I'm just waiting to be honest and then we do it in the second week in November - but no earlier," she said.

"Family life gets so busy in December we have to find a weekend when everyone can be together."

Joanne Kinsey said family life is so busy in December it is hard to find a free weekend to put the tree up

She continued: "We have to pick a time when we actually have a few hours spare to do the job.

"Getting everything down from the loft and putting everything out does take a few hours.

"There are only four weekends in December and one is Christmas so doing the decorations early frees us up to go out and do things like Christmas markets and meet with friends and family."

Ms Kinsey said she uses the same decorations each year, some of which have poignant memories attached as they were made by her children when they were young, or bought while away on holiday.

She said she also tries to pick up one or two new items to add in each year and admitted she will have the decorations up for about two months.

"I like the ambience it gives you in the house when it starts to get darker," she said.

"It just puts you in that festive uplifting mood."

Joanne Kinsey said she likes the ambience of Christmas lights on cold nights

Meanwhile, Peter Marr, who lives on Wrenbury Drive in Rochdale, has been decorating his house since the late 1990s.

He has already put the lights up but said it is always a strict first weekend in December before they get switched on.

His road has become something of a destination for curious visitors as it was one of the first in the area to start lighting up.

"It started with just three houses in 1998 but it has got bigger and bigger as the years have gone by," he said.

The entire street now lights up and a visit has become a tradition for many people in the run-up to Christmas.

Peter Marr said the cost of running Christmas lights is worth it for the joy it brings to people

The retired electrician said although it does cost the residents to run their displays, the new LED lights do not use as much energy as the old-style bulbs.

"It does increase the electricity bill but not like it would've done 20 years ago," he said.

"It does cost a little bit more but not a fortune and it's worth it."

Mr Marr has installed 25 different sets of lights at his house including an inflatable Santa, penguins and reindeers in the garden and on the roof.

The road has become so popular that residents now raise money for the nearby Springhill Hospice.

While Mr Marr said he would love to put the lights on earlier, it has become tradition for the road to light up on the first Saturday of December at 17:00 GMT.

"It's amazing for the children and we get crowds of people up and down the road.

"We get people coming from all over the place - people who came as children now bringing their own children.

"It's lovely."

Wrenbury Drive in Rochdale has become a destination for visitors keen to see its many lavishly-decorated homes

But others think November is too soon to start putting up the festive decorations.

Among them is Pauline Dolan, from Liverpool, who said that while she loves Christmas she is "not big on outdoor lights" but she said she does pull out the stops for Christmas decorations inside her home.

"You can't move in my house for Christmas trees and fairy lights," she said.

"It takes me two days to do it all - but never in November.

"My romantic date with my Bublé CD and my box of decorations is definitely a December one!"

Mary Kenny is more of a traditionalist and said her Christmas tree is up "for 12 days before and 12 days after".

She added: "November is far too early for me personally.

"It shouldn't be until at least December I think but I can understand that if people have spent a lot of money on lights and and decorations they will want to get their money's worth".