Christmas just can't come early enough for the Froud family from Faringdon.

Just when most people have finished putting away the tinsel and trimmings from one festive season, Debbie and husband Rob are already preparing for the next.

And just to make sure the family has plenty of time to get in the mood for the coming seasonal celebrations, their home in Marines Drive is already lit up with a Christmas lights spectacular - inside and out - with nearly two months still to go.

The garage roof sports fairy lights and a real Christmas tree, complete with decorations, along with an illuminated Santa, snowman and baby reindeer. Indoors, most of the rooms are similarly decorated and even include A 'singing snowman' and Santa.

Debbie, 30, who works from home for a local company White Horse Plastics, freely admits: "I just love Christmas. It's behind every child's smile."

Husband Rob, a warehouse-man for Excell Logistics in Didcot, agrees - but draws a line at decorations in the bathroom.

Debbie, who has three children - Jamie, eight, Alex, six, and Chloe, two, said it had taken four days to decorate the house. It's the fourth year running the family has got their Christmas decorations up so early. "I started last February buying presents for members of the family, which numbers about 35 in the Wantage and Faringdon areas," she said.

"Rob tried to get me a big Santa in a sledge with two reindeer for the roof, but the Swindon firm who sell them as a Christmas food and gift pack refused to deliver it, claiming it was too early.

"The neighbours think I'm mad, and very sad, but it brings a smile to their faces.

"I'm just giving people enough warning that Christmas is coming," she added.

Story date: Friday 05 November

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.