Met Office update: White Christmas could be on its way as snow and ice could come again in late December

The Met Office has published a huge new update on weather later into December, with a hint that some of us could be about to experience a so-called 'White Christmas'.

The meteorological service has published its long term forecast covering December 20 to January 3 - right over the Christmas and New Year period. It comes as the country was plunged into bitterly cold temperatures and frost, as well as snow and heavy rain over the first week in December.

The latest update for Christmas from the Met Office has said that there is a chance of snow and ice on or around Christmas Day. However, it has also warned that milder and wetter weather may also be expected right through December and into the new year.

The long range weather forecast for Wednesday December 20 to Wednesday January 3 reads: "Most likely to be unsettled with further bands of rain crossing the UK with brighter conditions and showers in between. The wettest and windiest conditions are most likely in the west and northwest.

"The chance of a colder spell of weather, with hazard such as snow and ice, does increase later in December and into the New Year period. However, conditions are more likely to remain generally mild and wet."

A 'White Christmas' is officially called so if there is a presence of snowfall, however little, from 12am until 23.59pm on 25 December according to the Met Office and bookies across the UK. In other countries, a minimum level of snowfall is usually required for it to be called a "white Christmas" - for example, in the US, at least 1 inch of snow needs to fall before it is given the festive title.