SCOTLAND experienced its coldest spell so far this year, with temperatures plummeting below freezing in large parts of the country over the weekend.
The temperature dropped to -12C on Saturday night in Braemar, Aberdeenshire and it was expected to be around -7C in the Southern Uplands last night.
The below-average temperatures have led bookmakers to brace themselves for their biggest-ever whit
e Christmas pay-out.
The odds of snow on Christmas Day in Glasgow have now dropped to 3/1 from 8/1.
The city experienced some of the coldest weather in the country this weekend, with fog keeping temperatures yesterday at -2C.
Widespread ice led to a weather warning yesterday morning from the Met Office, which reported there could be a problem in some areas today if snow and rain freeze on the ground.
There was snow on the hills across the north-west Highlands and Western Isles yesterday, which is expected to hit Grampian, Aberdeen, Angus and Tayside overnight, and possibly Fife, Lothian and the Borders today.
Following a flurry of wagers and fears of a payout of up to £1 million, Ladbrokes has cut the odds on there being snow in London on Christmas Day to 3/1.
In October, the firm had chalked up the capital as a 7/1 chance. But the number of bets placed has caused the price to fall away.
Nick Weinberg, a spokesman for the bookmaker, said: "The country has gone white Christmas crazy.
"Whenever temperatures plummet we see a surge in weather wagers.
"We'll certainly be lacking festive cheer if snow falls on the big day."
The full article contains 274 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
