ELVES might be Santa’s helpers, but these four women call Santa their boss as they go out for their Christmas shopping.

For the past 20 years, these four friends have travelled to Southampton on the first week of December to buy Christmas presents and this year has been no exception. 

They bring matching Christmas pyjamas, slippers, pillowcases, jumpers, earrings, tablecloths, cutlery and glasses.

Each with their own nickname, Pam Goff (Prancer Pam), Debbie Read (Mrs Christmas), Teresa Bennett (Christmas Tretre), and Marina Bailey (Mingle Bells) arrived in the city on Friday around 3pm.

READ MORE: Friends celebrate 20 years of Christmas shopping in Southampton

Daily Echo: Debbie Read with her shopping trolleyDebbie Read with her shopping trolley (Image: Debbie Read)

They are staying in the same hotel and prepare themselves to “shop till we drop”.

Debbie, 59, from Chessington in Greater London, said: “Once we got into our room, we unpacked and put the Christmas tree up and all the lights.

“We have matching pillowcases, pyjamas and slippers.

“Our families think we are absolutely crazy, but they know that we love it and they love us for that.

“The people here remember us year after year, the lady at Boots remembers us and still checks us when we go there, Father Christmas at John Lewis also remembers us too.”

The group even made their tradition to dine at the same restaurant, Bella Italia, where they use their own tableware.

READ MORE: Southampton’s Christmas market to return tomorrow - What you need to know

Daily Echo: The group shopping at Bella Italia.The group shopping at Bella Italia. (Image: Debbie Read)

Marina, 54, from Petersfield said: “The girls in Bella Italia know us now so they put nothing on the table as we bring our own tablecloth, our own cutlery which is engraved with our own Christmas names, and we have matching napkins and wine glasses.

“We say merry Christmas to everyone we see and we call Santa our boss and he sends us out to share the joy.”

The four friends all live across Hampshire, Surrey and East Sussex.

They originally chose Southampton and after enjoying the city's offering, decided to make it a tradition.

Now the four share a WhatsApp group chat named HoHoHo where they plan trips each year.

The group say they plan to continue their shopping spree until they get “kicked out”.

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