Some of you looking outside this morning may be surprised to be told that we will probably not have a White Christmas in England this year, although Scotland may achieve it.
This is by the definition of bookmaker William Hill, which claims a White Christmas requires actual snowfall over the 24 hours of Christmas day – according to them, the couple of inches of snow already on the ground does not count.
Scrooge is alive and well.
Update: According to the Met Office, there has been new snowfall in Nottinghamshire and Glasgow, with more forecast for Edinburgh and the Peak District before the end of day.
So it seems that William Hill will have to pay some folk, after all, but perhaps not the 15,000 punters who bet on it actually being a White Christmas in London, where new snow is not expected. If that happens, the bookies are facing a bill of over a million quid.