CHRISTMAS cheer has come to Derbyshire, with some shops starting seasonal discounts earlier than ever.

Department store Debenhams set the ball rolling last week with a 25% reduction on a range of items, which finished on Sunday.

Supermarket giant Asda has promised Christmas savings alongside one of its main competitors, Tesco, which has revealed discounts on merchandise and food.

The Cathedral Quarter in the city kicks off late-night shopping with a spectacular light show today.

Pre-Christmas deals have been announced at top high street stores such as Argos and WH Smith.

Nicola Peplow, 39, of Hilton, said she was taking advantage of the earlier sales this year.

She said: "We like to shop at Debenhams so it was great when they put their sale on. With children, shopping at Westfield is easier, with the parking so close.

"We also have a tradition of doing a bit of shopping in Bennett's, in Iron Gate."

Susan Burley, 57, said she normally shopped in her home city of Nottingham but started coming to Derby because all the shops she wanted were closely grouped.

She said: "I prefer getting the Christmas shopping done in Derby now."

Andy Lyon, senior partner and retail expert at PricewaterhouseCoopers at Castle Donington, is predicting that food and drink businesses in the city will be among the big winners over Christmas.

Mr Lyon believes consumers who still have jobs may be planning to spend a little more than usual this Christmas, after a stressful year.

Retailers in The Strand have joined forces with Quad arts centre to organise today's light show.

Martin Roper, owner of The Strand Café, said: "I got the idea from looking at the blank wall which is the back of the library on the neighbouring Wardwick and thought it was a perfect canvas to do something like this.

"We are delighted that Quad have agreed to use their creativity and expertise to create a festive light show."

James Foulds, managing director of Foulds, in Iron Gate, said the state of the economy meant the music shop needed to introduce early deals to draw in customers.

Prices have been cut on items such as keyboards and top-of-the-range pianos.

Mr Foulds said: "We are battling to reach last year's figures. There's a lot of competition from other stores and the internet. It would have to be a very good Christmas to beat last year's takings."

A spokesman for menswear shop Urban, in Sadler Gate, said he believed there was a better mood in the Cathedral Quarter ahead of this year's festive season.

He said: "There is a real buzz again this year. We are already up on last year and customers seem in the mood to buy again."

Bus company Trent Barton said it would continue to run regular late-night services for Christmas shoppers.

Full details are available at www.trentbarton.co.uk.

Experts have predicted that the busiest day for online Christmas shopping is expected to be Monday, December 7, 12 days earlier than the busiest day on the High Street, according to the Centre for Retail Research.

For more details on Christmas shopping in Derby, visit www.christmasinderby.com.