SANTA slipped on his shades and gave the reindeer the day off as he enjoyed the Indian summer heatwave in Nelson.

Outside the temperatures were reaching the 70s, but in one shop at least the festive season arrived three months early as tinsel, bright baubles and decorated Christmas trees brightened up the surroundings.

Passers-by enjoying the sun have been greeted by three 2ft high Santas in the window of The Mill Trading Shop in Leeds Road since staff got geared up in plenty of time for the Christmas rush and started to display the festive range.

"We usually start putting out the Christmas stuff around this time, but it's a bit unusual because we don't normally have this kind of heatwave in September," said Joyce Ingham, who runs the store with her husband John and son Robert.

"It does seem a bit crazy with the sunshine outside but the weather is unusually warm.

"People have got the summer holidays over and now they're beginning to look ahead to Christmas. They might not be buying now but they are planning what they want and these displays given them some ideas."

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