WEATHER experts at the Met Office say a white Christmas is "likely" - but not for many.

A white Christmas is defined by the Met Office as a single snowflake falling on Christmas Day.

The weather agency said a white Christmas is "likely" this year as wintry showers could fall over high ground in the far north of Scotland.

In Bradford, however, Christmas Day will be cloudy with temperatures reaching 10C and there is no sign of the white stuff, according to the latest Met Office forecast.

Looking at Saturday and Sunday, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dave Hayter said: "It'll be a particularly wet weekend in the north and west, with breezy conditions for many.

"While those further south will generally be drier, some sporadic showers could spread into the southwest at times, as well as some more persistent rain for Wales on Sunday.

"Christmas Day will likely see a continuation of unsettled, mainly showery, weather in the northwest, including Northern Ireland.

"While the day may start damp in southern and central areas, that rain should clear into the English Channel through the evening."

Looking towards the New Year, the weather will remain unsettled with low pressure bringing breezy and wet conditions for many.