Yorkshire town celebrates Christmas four months early but nobody is complaining

Christmas gets earlier every year, goes the traditional moan - and this year, it’s so early that there are children running around in flip-flops and Santa is at risk of sunburn on the beach.

The seaside town of Bridlington in Yorkshire is celebrating the big day four months early - but nobody seems to be complaining about it.

In fact, as we look around at this newly transformed winter wonderland, everyone seems to be having fun. Crucially, no-one is arguing about their mother-in-law’s measly Christmas pudding servings or getting into fist fights over the crackers.

Instead, there’s a tinsel-decked train crammed full of tiny angelic children, Christmas trees decorated with buckets and spades, and even the seagulls are behaving themselves - although their screams are being drowned out by the sound of the local choir singing Christmas carols.

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In a bid to put Bridlington on the map, the Yorkshire coastal town is staging ‘Bridmas Day’ - proving it’s not just a summer holiday destination.

And it may be 22 degrees in the shade, but it’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

As we swap donkey rides for a tinsel-sprinkled train ride, conductor Jonathon Kinghorn rings his bell and six-year-old River shouts “Hello, Mr Christmas!” before we start our journey along the promenade into what feels like another world.

River is here with her mum Chelsea, 32, and grandma Jane Filby, 62, and tells us she is so excited to be at Bridmas because her birthday is on Christmas Day - and she can’t wait to tell Father Christmas.

Jane says: “We’ve come from Northamptonshire for a week’s holiday and we didn’t know about Bridmas until we saw it on the news this morning.

“We were already planning to come to the beach for the day and when we saw this event was also going on we thought, ‘That’s great because it’s River’s birthday on Christmas Day’ - but we didn’t tell her until she got here.”

River is most excited about meeting Father Christmas: “It’s exciting - I’m also looking forward to building a sandcastle and going into the sea. I love having a birthday on Christmas Day because I get double the presents.”

Her mum Chelsea added: “It’s a bit strange celebrating Christmas on a hot, sunny day in August but River’s auntie goes to Australia every year so I suppose it’s a bit like that.”

Grandma Jane says it’s a great day out and - while they wouldn’t turn their nose up at mince pies and mulled wine - they “can’t wait to have fish and chips”. As long as the seagulls keep their beaks off, that is.

Along the stretch of mile-long sandy beach, families are setting up their deck chairs for the day and kids are building sandcastles and sand mermaids. We spot the big man himself, Father Christmas - who could probably do with some Factor 50 instead of his fur-trimmed velvet hat - who tells us he’s from the North Pole but loves coming to Bridlington for his holidays.

“It’s absolutely balmy celebrating Christmas in August but that’s what we do in Bridlington as we’re a crazy bunch around here,” he ho-ho-hos.

“It’s out of my comfort zone because as you know it’s much colder in the North Pole but even though I'm a bit toasty I’m managing - they’re keeping me hydrated.”

We spot one festive-mad family pulling their youngest two children along the white sands in Santa’s sleigh.

Dad Darren, 51, says: “We found out about Bridmas a week ago - we absolutely love Christmas in our family. We always wear short-sleeved Christmas outfits every year because we like to crank the heating up high, so we had the perfect outfits ready for Christmas on the beach.”

Wife Tracy, 56, adds: “We love Christmas as a family and every Boxing Day we wear matching Grinch pyjamas. Today’s brilliant, the atmosphere is great, everyone’s having a good time and it’s good to see everyone outside with their families having fun.

“It’s really busy and we were worrying when we were walking up that it was only gonna be us dressed up. We moved to Bridlington a few months ago - we love living here, everyone is so friendly, everything's on your doorstep and people talk to you when you’re out and about.

“Bridmas is good for the town as it shows that all year round there’s lots to do for families - we’re going to go and see Father Christmas and go on the train and we’ll definitely be coming back next year.”

Roxanne Ellis, 37, from nearby Goole, says: “I’ve got my three children with me, my mother, my auntie, my cousins and their children - we’re having a big family day out in Bridlington. We came especially for Bridmas as I love Christmas.

“I could start celebrating Christmas now and put my tree up - I love spending money and giving gifts and eating pigs in blankets.

“I’ll probably buy a few Christmas presents from the market stalls today. It’s a brilliant idea for local businesses and it’s lovely to get out as a family - we’ll be taking the kids to see Father Christmas later.”

But while her son Bobby, 12, says he’s having a good time, he points out that there’s one thing missing.

“I like Christmas but I don’t have any presents so it’s not as good as the real Christmas,” he says. “It’s a bit different to actual Christmas as you have snow and other things to look forward to like mince pies but I’m still enjoying it. It’s a bit funny that it’s hot and I’m sitting on the beach celebrating Christmas in August.”

Alan, 73, and Hazel Austell, 72, have brought their granddaughter Evie, five, to the beach for the day and they’re all wearing Christmas jumpers, although they’ve tied them around their waists because the sun is blazing.

Alan says: “We thought we’d bring our Christmas jumpers with us and get into the spirit of things but it’s so warm. It’s something different and we've been looking forward to it. Having two Christmasses a year isn’t so bad - we’re looking forward to taking Evie to see Father Christmas and going on the Santa train.”

Meanwhile, Fiona Turner, project coordinator for East Riding Council is manning the impressive ice sculpture by the huge Christmas tree in the market which, unsurprisingly, is melting in the heat.

“We’re promoting the ice trail, which is happening in the town over the weekend of November 15 and 16 - the idea is to show people that Bridlington is alive during winter as well, it’s not just for summer,” she says, studiously ignoring the steady drip-drip of her sculpture.

“It’s lovely to see Bridlington so busy. Businesses here do okay in the summer but it’s important to support them all year round. There’s a lot of culture in Bridlington and lovely scenery - it’s beautiful.”

But not everyone is impressed when it comes to celebrating Christmas Day so early.

The Grinch rocks up and looks around disdainfully. “It’s a bit ridiculous celebrating Christmas in the middle of August,” he sniffs. “I would probably change the fact that it is warm and Christmassy, to be honest with you.”