A mere 141 days prior to Father Christmas' busy night of deliveries, Selfridges opened its Chistmas Shop.

On the 1st August.

To make sure we have plenty of time to practice all the high notes in Mariah Carey's classic 'All I Want For Christmas', the Oxford Circus based Shop's Fourth Floor has been transformed into a depressingly humid Winter Wonderland.

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The shop's excuse is that tourists' visits to the capital in the summer put authentic Christmas decorations in demand, despite the season.

Geraldine James, Christmas home and decorations buyer at Selfridges, said: 'We have so many customers visiting from all over the world and eager to snap up festive souvenirs on their summer holidays, which they can't buy at home.

'So, we have to make sure we're ready to showcase Christmas decorations they will truly treasure.'

This isn't even the earliest it has started; in 2011 Selfridges began celebrations prior to this, in early July.

We understand, Selfridges, you probably make a lot of cash from the festive season, but, next year, could you make our Christmas wish come true?

All we want for Christmas is an adequately timed Elf sighting.

Thank you.