CHRISTMAS came very early to one North-East pub at the weekend.

Startled drinkers and diners at the Queens Head, in Gilesgate, Durham, had a double take as a family Christmas party was in full flow yesterday afternoon.

Eight-five shopping days before the big day, members of Kathy and Walter Brannen's family staged the surprise gathering in their honour.

The family usually organises a Christmas party at the pub, but as Kathy and Walter are planning a sunshine holiday this Christmas, it was brought forward by almost three months.

The couple, from Gilesgate, thought they were going for Sunday lunch, as usual, at the Queens Head, but as they stepped into the dining area they were greeted by daughters Pauline, Angie, Kathy and Jacquie, sons David and Walter junior, "adopted" daughter Christine, their nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, plus other friends and relations.

There were even two Father Christmases in attendance, better known as old friends Ken Dalglish and Frankie Smithson.

"We weren't expecting to see anyone here, so it took us back a bit," said Walter.

A corner of the Queens Head was decked out with Christmas decorations, with plenty of tinsel, crackers and other festive trappings, while the pub juke box played Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody and other familiar seasonal hits.

The party doubled as a 62nd birthday celebration for Kathy, and a retirement party for Walter, who ends a 20-year stint at Durham's National Savings Department on Friday.

Kathy also called it a day recently from her own job, running The Old Chippy, in nearby Sherburn Road.

Queens Head landlady Linda Gibson said: "We always advise people to book early for Christmas, but I wasn't expecting anything as soon as this.

"It's the earliest Christmas party I've ever known in all my years in the trade."