RELIGIOUS leaders and campaign groups have accused council bosses of going Christmas crackers after decorations were put up in Burnley town centre - two months before the festive season.

Today the man behind the campaign to 'Keep Christmas Special' said the decision to start the festive season so early was 'objectionable'.

And the Bishop of Burnley said festive celebrations should not start until December.

Christmas trees have already been put up and switched on in St James's Street and Keirby Walk in Burnley and in Padiham town centre.

Paul Glover, of the Keep Christmas Special website campaign, said: "We did a survey recently and 80 per cent of people thoroughly disapproved of Christmas things being in the shops and decorations going up in September and October and many people we spoke to have complained to shop managers. November is slightly more acceptable, but festive celebrations really shouldn't be starting until December, any earlier is pretty objectionable.

"I can understand that shops don't want to get left behind, but we need to put pressure on some of the big stores and maybe the start of Christmas can be delayed a bit.

"Because people start celebrating so early by the time we actually get to Christmas time it feels quite flat."

The Rt Rev John Goddard, Bishop of Burnley, said: "I regret the over-commercialisation of Christmas and part of that is not living to the seasons of the year, especially the faith seasons.

"I love Christmas and I love seeing the decorations and the towns all lit up, but I do think we should wait until at least the start of Advent or the two or three weeks before Christmas Day."

A Burnley council spokesman said: "The official switch on of the borough's Christmas lights in Burnley and Padiham town centres will take place in the middle of November. This gives us approximately four weeks to put up all the decorations and lights and test them.

"The first of the decorations were put in place last week and there is an ongoing work-programme to ensure everything will be ready and safe for the big switch on. Unfortunately the decorations cannot be put up overnight that is why parts of the borough already have some decorations in place."