Most people don’t put their Christmas decorations up until at least December 1.

But for Sharon Watson and her eight children, it's November 1 that marks the start of the festive season.

Every year for the last 22 years Sharon has put up her Christmas decorations almost a month before everyone else.

Both Sharon and her children, aged two to 23, decorate the inside and outside of their home in Warlingham Close, Rainham.

It’s a tradition that started following the first birthday of Sharon’s eldest child Jaqueline who was born on November 1, 1985.

Sharon said: “Some people walk past and stare in disbelief but I’ve always done it.

"I’ve lived at this house for the last four years and I was living in Gravesned for 12 years before that.

“We usually start putting the decorations up on November 1 and finish the following day.

"The children love to help but sometimes they do get in the way. My eldest still loves the fact we put them up so early.

“The Christmas tree is already up in the front room and we usually start wrapping the presents and putting them under the tree on November 1, too but my youngest has spina bifida and is due to go into hospital for a nine hour operation to have rods put in her back so we’ve put that on hold for the moment.”