One in ten Britons can't wait until December and is already decking the halls...

Hark! If you can't wait until December 1 to start putting up your festive decorations, then you're not alone. As many as one in ten Britons will put up their Christmas tree this week, a survey has revealed. Four in ten believe that the traditional 24-day countdown is too short, so once the Halloween decorations get put back in the cupboard, 17 per cent start to feel Christmassy. More than a quarter of people have already started dusting off their decorations and listening to Christmas music.

Meanwhile some 22 per cent will be tuning in to festive films such as It's A Wonderful Life and (arguably) Die Hard. Celebrations chocolates, which commissioned the survey of 2,000 adults, dubbed the results 'Christmas-maxxing' – a trend in which Britons try to prolong the festivities beyond December. Other ways British people try to extend the festive period is by buying new decorations, something 21 per cent do, putting the tree up a month early, what 20 per cent do, digging out the Christmas pyjamas and present shopping throughout the year - what 18 per cent do.

One of those getting into the Christmas spirit early this year is presenter Amanda Holden, who showed off her elaborate decorations on Instagram yesterday . The 55-year-old posted: 'I don't think I'll ever be able to explain quite what Christmas means to me. I was lucky enough to have a childhood full of love. We didn't have much, but somehow Christmas always felt like we had everything. Hark! If you can't wait until December 1 to start putting up your festive decorations, then you're not alone 'Even now, the decorations going up gives me a lump in my throat.

I'm straight back to being little, full of excitement and believing anything was possible. And, for the record, I still believe in Father Christmas.' St Pancras International also unveiled its spectacular 11-metre Christmas 'tree' yesterday. The London train station has partnered with the German tourist board to create a three-tiered wooden monument with 24 'curiosity windows' showcasing festive traditions. Try rocking around that...