Christmas can sometimes come too early for many of us, but surely not in 2020.

The residents of one Wirral street have wasted no time getting themselves in the festive spirit, raising money for the local hospice in the process.

Neighbours and on-lookers gathered at a social distance on Templemore Road in Oxton at the weekend to bare witness to their much-anticipated annual street Christmas lights switch on.

The tight-knit group have put the annual event to good use this year, using the lights to participate in Wirral Hospice' Christmas Lights Trail fundraiser.

A resident of the street told the Globe: "We always switch on in late November alongside some of our neighbours. It’s great fun watching our men 'compete'!

"We just love Christmas and each year we get more and more comments about them. Last year we received letters through the door thanking us. One lady brings her mother with dementia to see them regularly as it really cheers her up and so many children seem to love them too.

"This year the road has come together during the pandemic and we have an active WhatsApp group. It was decided that we would all aim to switch on together nice and early this year.

"We then spotted that the Wirral Hospice were advertising a Christmas Lights Trail. This is something that we wanted to support and that starts officially on December 12.

"The response from residents and on lookers has been hugely positive. It’s really raised the spirits at such a difficult time for everyone. More lights are being added daily!

"We estimate that we have in excess of 80,000 lights on the road now."

Homes across Wirral are invited to enter the Wirral Christmas Lights Trail.

To enter, decorate the outside of your home with Christmas cheer between December 12-27 and donate £5 to Wirral Hospice St John's.

Your postcode will then be added to the Wirral Christmas Lights Trail map. Our Wirral community will be able to look at the map, locate which houses are shining in their local area and go on an exciting trail to find them.

The public will be able to vote for their favourite house via the Wirral Hospice website from the December 12 onwards, with the winning three houses will receive a fabulous Christmas prize.

All funds raised from the Wirral Christmas Lights Trail will go directly towards helping Wirral Hospice St John's to provide care and support to patients and their families, throughout the festive period and beyond.