IT may be August bank holiday weekend, but Christmas has already started in Worcestershire.

Christmas trees are on sale, bookings are being taken for office parties and one pub is even serving Christmas pudding as businesses use the traditional summer break to promote the festive period.

Many pubs and restaurants are already advertising their December promotions.

The Perdiswell Inn, Worcester, is even holding a special fun day on Monday. Staff will be dressed in Santa Claus outfits and the pub will have Christmas decorations.

Deputy manager Diane Fellows explained: "It may seem early, but people are starting to think about Christmas outings now.

"We started to take bookings last week and have had some enquiries

already. It is the earliest we have done this, but we felt the demand called for it."

Saffrons Bistro in New Street has been taking bookings since June.

Duty manager Sarah Blundell said: "We have had a lot of enquiries and usually book up really quickly.

"People are starting to think about Christmas earlier and earlier."

Not everyone is though. Father Paul Fitzpatrick, of St George's RC Church in Sansome Place, Worcester, had mixed reactions to the news preparations are already under way.

He said: "We have the season of Advent to lead up to Christmas and we must be very careful not to peak too early.

"It is August and it is sunny and we should not be thinking about the birth of Christ now. However, businesses must survive, and Christmas is a very important part of the year for them."

It isn't only venues in Worcester that are thinking ahead.

Webbs of Wychbold garden centre, near Droitwich, is famed for its spectacular yuletide displays.

It was due to start selling artificial Christmas trees this week, but has put this back because of delays.

The Gardeners Arms, in Charlton, near Pershore, has gone one step further by giving customers an actual taste of Christmas with their festive pudding.

The dessert, usually eaten on December 25, has been on the menu since the beginning of August and is proving very popular.

Proprietor Ann Edwards said: "We have had a huge demand for it because it is unusual at this time of year.

"The weather has been quite good this summer and I think it has given some people the feeling of Christmas cheer."