Bookies Fear A Black Christmas

Even though weather forecasters believe there is "no chance" of Wales having a white Christmas, bookies yesterday cut the odds as the big freeze set in.

David Williams of Ladbrokes said the odds of snow falling on Cardiff weather centre had gone from 9/1 to 7/1.

He said, "We are getting a lot of support for a white Christmas, even though I personally don't think there will be one. There is far more chance of a foggy Christmas and we considered running odds on that, but it might be a bit silly. But if we do have a white Christmas, it will be a black one for the bookies - that's for sure."

The fog that has left holidaymakers with a cloud over their travel plans, looks set to disperse this weekend, delivering stranded passengers an early Christmas present.

MeteoGroup UK forecaster Michael Dukes said the weekend offers a brighter picture, predicting the heavy blanket would begin to lift on Saturday.

"In the next 24 hours, fog will still be a major problem across some parts," he said. "But there is a glimmer of hope for Christmas. Latest forecast models are indicating there may be an end to the fog problems. This should help to lift the fog into low cloud from Saturday evening onwards, with fog problems becoming confined to the hills."

However, things still look gloomy for Christmas, with grey skies and cold temperatures expected across much of the UK. On Thursday temperatures got down to minus seven at Sennybridge in Powys.

Met Office forecaster Anton Muscat said temperatures had actually dropped below average recently, as the fog has prevented the sun's warming rays reaching the ground.

"Across the UK temperatures are below average," he said. "At this time of year we might expect temperatures of eight degrees across London and the South. What we are seeing across England and Wales are zero, one and two degrees at best. We have a lot of areas of fog, so it is a bit colder than usual."

Despite the cold snap, Mr Muscat said 2006 remains on track to be the warmest year on record, after the UK enjoyed unusually high temperatures in the summer and autumn.

Meanwhile, he said a white Christmas in any part of the UK was very unlikely. "The chance of snow is very, very small," said Mr Muscat.

The bookies will be relieved.