ESSEX is set for a wet Christmas this year as rain and wind is predicted to hit the county over the festive period.
The Met Office say Christmas Eve will remain largely cold, with rain and drizzle over much of Essex, along with a chilly northwesterly wind that will strengthen during the day.
Christmas Day is likely to remain cold with sunshine and isolated showers in the north of the county and widespread frost overnight, that will extend into Friday and Saturday.
The rest of the country is also expected to be hit by the frosty conditions with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day temperatures getting to no higher than 7C in most places.
Helen Chivers at the Met Office said: "We will have colder and crisper weather for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as well."
"You might see sleety snow on higher ground in the North of England and Scotland, but it will be dry with a fair amount of sunshine."
Bookmakers have increased the odds snow on Christmas Day in London to 12/1, while the Met Office says the most that can be expected is "sleety snow on higher ground", which is unlikely to settle as freezing fog could cause problems for people getting across the country on the roads or trains.
High winds have also caused problems for planes at Leeds and Bradford airports.
