IT may be the height of summer but staff at Burnley Mechanics are already encouraging people to book for Christmas.

Bookings at the venue are up 450 per cent on this time last year, despite there being six months to go until party season.

Mechanics’ hospitality and catering manager Mark Dempsey said: “It’s a fantastic achievement to be this busy so early.

“We had sold 185 tickets at this point last year and this year we are already on 797 tickets.

“We have seen a much earlier take up on tickets despite them going on sale at the same time.”

For more information on the Mechanics’ Christmas parties, call 01282 664400.