Despite the heatwave the UK is currently experiencing and still with 142 shopping days left until Christmas, the department store Selfridges has become the first retailer to open its Christmas department this year.

Selfridges has launched a North Pole-themed space on the fourth floor of its Oxford Street flagship store with more than 700 sq ft of space being decked with more than 100,000 festive decorations.

It has been expected at this stage to appeal mainly to tourists however customers can choose from more than 300 different crackers and almost 450 Christmas tree styles.

Selfridges is expected to sell 46,500 decorations and wreaths and 29,000 cards this Christmas.