A FAMILY have put up their Christmas lights nine months early to raise people’s spirits during the coronavirus pandemic.

Adrian Jolly had a bet with a friend that if she could get 150 likes on a Facebook post about his Christmas lights, he would put them out on his house.

The 41-year-old, who lives with his wife Nalan and two children Annabelle and Zac, is known in Little Wakering for his festive house which he lights up every year.

The post reached target, and Mr Jolly spent this week getting the lights put up around his house.

He said: “She hit the target within 45 minutes to an hour, that was on Thursday.

“Since then we’ve spent time doing it. We also got hold of an LED banner.

“The message reads ‘keep smiling, we will beat this’.

“It’s just a bit of fun but it’s making people smile and everyone likes it.

“We’ve been in this house for about six years, and every year we do it, just this year we’re putting them up a bit early.”

The video of My Jolly’s lit-up house in Little Wakering Road has been shared around community groups and has reached people as far as London who are in self-isolation because of the ongoing COVID-19 issues.

Mr Jolly added; “I lost a bet fair and square, and now it’s making people smile, so it’s worked out ok.”