IT'S only September and Christmas Cards, crackers and next year's diaries are already on the shelves in Andover shops.

Clinton Cards in the High Street, Wilkinson in Bridge Street and the County Bookshop in the Chantry Centre, Andover have entered into the festive spirit three months early.

A Wilkinson spokesman said: "Every year we find that there is a demand for Christmas cards in late summer, regardless of the weather, and so our early sales are always good." Tina Brown, deputy manager at the County Bookshop said: "The company wanted to jump ahead."

Since the end of August Clinton Cards has had its Christmas Across the Miles cards on the shelves. A spokesman for Clintons said: "We do not get any complaints about the time of year that we display our cards."

Decorations are also currently being put on the shelves at the Wyevale Garden Centre in Andover.

Marketing manager Mr Malcolm Sampson said: "Andover Garden Centre has been earmarked as a special Christmas Centre and as such will have a bigger and vastly superior range of Christmas decorations, lights and gifts than ever before."