November has started and for one family so has Christmas!

John and June Claydon have bedecked their home with fairy lights in what must be one of the earliest domestic festive displays.

The couple are famed for their festive display at their home at Larch Grove, Greenstead, Colchester.

This year three of the couple's four children will be away at yuletide so they have decided to start Christmas early

Mr Claydon said: "We've been doing the lights for several years now. We normally put them up in December but as the family are going abroad we decided to do it early."

Retired motor mechanic Mr Claydon said: "There are probably about 3,000 to 5,000 light bulbs up there with about ten or 15 boxes of normal lights. It takes me an average of two weeks to put them up."

Published Monday November 4, 2002

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