Tisn't the season: Selfridges' Christmas launch fails to raise any ho-ho-ho

London department store starts the festive countdown - 147 shopping days before 25 December

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London enjoyed some long overdue summer sun yesterday, with temperatures a "balmy" 22 degrees, says The Sun.

But there was a late-December vibe on Oxford Street when Selfridges became the "first in the world" to launch its Christmas department - a full 147 shopping days before the big day.

So, were customers caught up in the festive spirit? Not quite.

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The Sun quotes shoppers branding the move "ridiculous" and "delusional".

In some cases - such as former Leeds United director and now Penzance councillor David Haigh - there was simply shock. Others took to Twitter to express anger at the move.

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Selfridges' customer service team tried to (politely) head off criticism by saying the department is especially aimed at tourists. The full festive range isn't available yet and only a selection of "London-inspired Christmas decorations and stocking fillers" can be found.

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For some people, though, there can never be enough Christmas - including, it seems, Oxford University academic Ben Goldacre, the man behind the popular Bad Science.

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Selfridges festive food products go on sale on Friday, says the Daily Telegraph, while the full Christmas offering of 130,000 product lines is available from 4 September.

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