SUPERGRAN Joan Philburn made sure Christmas came early this year.

Her house is adorned with hundreds of dazzling lights, dozens of festive ornaments and a five foot high Christmas tree, complete with fairy.

But the unusual thing is, they have been there since September 5.

Each year Mrs Philburn, aged 55, and her 74-year-old husband, Ronald, turn their home into a Santa's grotto to light up the dark winter nights.

Outside, the lights in the ground floor windows twinkle on and off, mesmerising passers-by.

But Mrs Philburn still has one regret: She cannot put them up all year round because Ronald will not let her.

She said: "I think he has to put his foot down sometimes but I love the decorations so much -- I'd love to have them up all the time.

"The place looks so bare without the lights outside and the decorations inside."

Mrs Philburn, a school lollipop lady, of Winchester Way, Bolton, has eight grandchildren aged from two to 14.

She estimates the decorations have cost her thousands of pounds. One -- of Santa riding his sleigh -- cost £180.

Inside her semi-detached house, little ornaments of Santa, snowmen and angels fill every shelf and window sill.

Tinsel hangs from the walls and ceilings, and a tree stands in the corner of the living room.

Mrs Philburn said: "My husband and I adore Christmas and we always try to go one better each year.

"The neighbours start putting their decorations up around this time and it makes the whole street look really pretty."

Have you gone Christmas crackers this year? Anyone with a winter wonderland -- inside or outside the house -- should contact the Newsdesk on 01204 361270 and have it pictured in the BEN.