Forecasters are expecting a cold night ahead - raising the prospect of a white Christmas in Kent.

Bookies have already shortened the odds to 11/10 this week that a flake of snow will hit the county on Christmas Day.

And the county's weathermen are also keeping their fingers crossed that tomorrow we'll see a festive flurry.

Shaun Maltby, who runs kent-weather.co.uk, said: "Father Christmas rung me this morning for that all important Christmas forecast and to ask if it'll be a white one.

"To start us off for today we have quite a clear morning and afternoon to look forward to with the winds finally easing down.

"Temperatures will be above freezing helping to continue to thaw lying snow for people that some remaining.

"This evening and overnight, it might turn a bit misty but otherwise a cold night (perfect for reindeer though to stay cool while dashing through the night sky) though with temperatures a little below freezing and turning icy once again.

"I hope the reindeer have their ice shoes on as they could be in for a slippery landing!

"So, this only leaves Christmas Day. And the perfect conditions for snow are on the charts.

"I have to remain unbiased though. I really, really would love to see a white Christmas and there might be some precipitation off the east Kent coastline.

"But it does look to remain in the North Sea and down into the English Channel as a ridge of high pressure moves east over the UK pushing any precipitation away from the county as Christmas Day continues.

"So sunny spells or some longer spells of sunshine into the afternoon, light winds and very cold once again, temperatures around 0C so the risk of ice remains!

"Overnight and into Boxing Day some cloud nudging back into Kent but a very cold night down to -3/4C again, with some mist or freezing fog patches."