Selfridges first department store in world to open Christmas shop

has opened its Christmas store - with the temperature outside at 19C more than 140 shopping days left to buy all the festive essentials.

The festive spirit has come almost five months early to the famous London retailer where the fourth floor has been decked out with 50,000 decorations.

Selfridges said it was the first department store in the world to launch its 2016 Christmas shop.

But not everyone is decking the halls, with Twitter user Trevor A Bishop tweeting: “This helps take all the magic, wonder and being special 0 Department store Santa makes an early appearance out of Christmas. Far too early. Only interested in their own profit.”

Selfridges said eager customers, especially many from overseas, were already starting their Christmas purchases.

The store said among this year’s big trends were personalised decorations, disco gems and Nordic wood.

Geraldine James, Christmas home and decorations buyer, said: “Despite the summer weather, we’re in full festive mode here at Selfridges. We’ve been working on this year’s Christmas Shop since Christmas last year.

“We have so many customers visiting from all over the world and eager to snap up festive souvenirs on their summer holidays, which they can’t buy at home. So, we have to make sure we’re ready to showcase Christmas decorations they will truly treasure.”