IT is 105 days until Christmas, but stores around Basingstoke are already stocking festive items. 

The Range in Basingstoke now has a wide range of Christmas items even though the summer season has not ended.

Tree decorations, light up snowmen, Christmas craft sets and stocking filler are among some of the stock filling shelves at the store on Reading Road.

Customers can even purchase Christmas trees even though its more than three months until the big day.

We asked our social media followers if they had spotted Christmas stoke in any other stores.

Basingstoke Gazette:

Here is what they said:

Suzanne Spokes spotted mince pies and Christmas puddings in Sainsburys.

Taran Norman saw advent calendars in Home Bargains, and Sienna Cameron said: “The Range, Card Factory, Poundland & Tescos stocking up their Christmas chocolate tubs.”

Pattie Penny has already bought a pack of Christmassy kitchen rolls in M&S this week. And Sue Foyle said: “St Michaels hospice shop in Tadley..... some lovely Christmas items over there.”

Other shops mentioned by readers were:

  • Asda      
  • B&M
  • Card factory
  • Clintons
  • Home bargains
  • Rosebourn garden centre
  • Redfields garden centre
  • Tesco

Basingstoke Gazette:

Christmas celebrations have been called into question after the government announced new restrictions on gatherings in England. 

After announcing the new rules at the nation’s coronavirus press briefing on Tuesday, the Prime Minister was asked whether Christmas was effectively cancelled. 

Answering the question from ITV’s Robert Peston, Boris Johnson said: “I'm still hopeful that in many ways, we could be able to get some aspects of our lives back to normal by Christmas.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is yet to make a statement on their festival plans but elsewhere in Hampshire ice rinks and Christmas markets have been cancelled.