A small family kitchen company has produced a touching Christmas film ad to rival the new £7 million John Lewis production.

Herringbone Kitchens in Palace Street, Canterbury, decided to create the commercial "for a bit of fun" but it is proving a big hit with 14,000 views on its Facebook page.

And it has achieved a remarkably effective result for just a few thousand pounds compared to the big budget John Lewis version.

William Durrant, who started the business with wife Elly four years ago, said: "We love it when the Christmas adverts come out.

"They are normally so emotional and highlight what is most important in life.

"Over the last few years, when the John Lewis advert is released we grab a cuppa and watch it together in the studio. It starts the Christmas season for us.

"We’ve always wanted to create a Christmas video of our own, so we worked with Sean

Brady at Red Cape productions in Broadstairs, who came up with the idea, and Abigail Cardwell and Chris Kennedy who wrote the song.

"We didn't have huge marketing budget but they have produced a fantastic little film that has received many compliments."

The one minute 40 second commercial tells the story of a little girl who is more excited to make her parents pancakes on Christmas morning, than open her presents.

William said: "Along the way, Leroy the Lamb, who is actually our son Feddie's stuffed toy who he sleeps with every night, watches to see what she is doing."

This year's hugely anticipated John Lewis ad stars Moz the Monster who lives under a little boy's bed.

At first he is scared of the creature peering at him through the darkness, but as time passes, the pair make friends and spend their nights playing - making the child sleepy in his daytime activities.

Then as Christmas morning arrives, the boy opens his presents to find a night light, which brightens his room and makes Moz the Monster vanish.

The tagline reads: "For gifts that brighten their world".