Coronavirus: Christmas arrives early to lighten the mood

Christmas decorations have been appearing across the country, as people stuck at home try to bring some much-needed joy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Homes and gardens have been decked with twinkling lights, and Christmas trees have even been making a reappearance, less then three months since the end of the festive season.

Meet some of the people who are bringing a little light into the world during this time of anxiety and illness.

'Why not have some fun?'

Emma Dickinson and her family, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, chose to dust off the Christmas decorations a few months earlier than tradition dictates after going into self-isolation.

The 36-year-old said the decision was inspired by her determination to stay positive.

"The children look to us for how we respond to things like this," she said.

"We don't have much control about what is going on outside of the house but we can control what is going on inside our house, so why not have some fun?"

Gail Challoner, from Tiverton, Devon, decided to put up her Christmas tree "because of what's been going on in the world".

"I just thought it would be quite nice for people to have a little smile on their faces," she said. "I've had a lot of positive responses."

Paul Burbidge-Grant, from Coventry, said he has received a great response to his Christmas lights display (pictured at the top of this story).

The 38-year-old, who decorates the house each Christmas to raise money for charity, said: "We looked out of the window the other day and saw how dark and gloomy the world was, so we wanted to light it up."

Mum-of-three Paula Daley, from Selston, Nottinghamshire, admitted she had been too "busy and lazy" to take down her Christmas lights in January.

"My children have been worrying about what's going to happen and we are trying to stay positive and I just saw the lights... and thought, 'why don't we put the lights on?'

"A couple of neighbours saw them and have started doing something similar," she said. "It's just about bringing a joyous spirit and keeping positive when things are difficult and hoping the storm will pass."

Social worker Elisabeth Forsythe, from Aigburth, Merseyside, said she wanted to help bring the community together.

"With the current climate, everyone is feeling down, stressed and anxious and I thought, 'what can I do to help cheer everyone up?

"There are a lot of elderly people in my community who are self-isolating and they might not have mobiles or the technology to connect with people," the 33-year-old said.

"In the evenings they can open the curtains and see the light and that sense of community."