CHRISTMAS lights have gone up all along Winchester High Street, more than a month before the switch-on.

The festive decorations in Winchester, seem to be going up earlier each year, with the lights first being spotted as early as today,  Tuesday, October 10.

Hampshire Chronicle: Christmas lights up in Winchester High StreetChristmas lights up in Winchester High Street (Image: Adele Bouchard)

READ MORE: Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market: All you need to know

Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) works with local contractor Itchus, who install the lights across the city centre.

BID director Paul Spencer said: "Winchester has an extensive festive lighting scheme, which every year attracts thousands of people to the city. It takes time to organise, install and test in advance of the Christmas Lights Switch On event."

This year the lights will be turned on on Thursday, November 16. Each year Winchester BID recruits a ‘local hero’ to do the honours at the switch-on event with live entertainment outside the Guildhall.

The Cathedral Christmas Market starts the same day and will be open until December 21.

Last year, the wooden chalets started to go up in the Inner Close even earlier than the lights near the end of October.