England's Christmas street decorations from the past

From balloons and horses to traditional crowns and stars, Christmas decorations in all shapes, sizes and colours have brightened up England's streets over the years. Enjoy some examples of the past here:

London's Christmas displays are world famous, and more than 50 years ago they were just as innovative with decorations shaped like hot-air balloons featuring in Regent Street's display in 1957.

In neighbouring Oxford Street the Christmas lights first went up in 1959.

In the 1960s, the street featured huge illuminated festive decorations which created a breathtaking spectacle.

In the same decade, Christmas decorations of all shapes and sizes brightened up town and city streets across the country, including in Birmingham, Norwich and in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

In Manchester, vehicles and precarious looking ladders were used to install the decorations in Market Street in the 1960s.

By 1993, thousands of Christmas lights were used to decorate the city's Albert Square.

In Newcastle, illuminated stars, snowflakes, angels and candles attached to street lights decorated Northumberland Street in 1987.

In Mousehole, in west Cornwall, Christmas lights have brightened up the village and quays for more than 50 years.

The spectacle attracts people from all over the world.

Over the years world-famous department stores have also competed to lure shoppers through their doors with glamorous outdoor displays.

From Christmas trees positioned between the pillars at Selfridges in London in 1935, to thousands of bright lights being used in festive displays in Harrods and Hamleys almost 70 years later.

The Christmas tree has been the centrepiece of many of the displays. Since 1947 the pine tree in London's Trafalgar Square has been a gift from the people of Norway in recognition of Britain's support during World War Two.

The following year, in the capital's Regent Street, battery-operated lights were precariously placed around Christmas trees on department store window ledges.

And in 1949, Euston Station's main booking hall was decorated with Christmas trees and festive displays.