SANTA Claus’ visit may be a few weeks away yet but Jack Frost has well and truly arrived in East Lancashire.

Towns across the region are gearing up for a host of winter festivals this weekend as families get ready for Christmas.

But despite Wednesday morning’s frost, meteorologists believe this month could be the warmest December on record, although sleet is forecast for this weekend.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Lancashire County Council gritters were out on all priority routes in the east of the county on Tuesday with temperatures expected to plummet to -3C.

Weather expert Roy Chetham, who studies the climate from Huncoat Weather Station, said: “Unless there is a cold snap in December, 2014 is going to be the warmest year on record.

“But these higher temperatures are not due to warmer days, just the strange and total lack of cold nights and frosty mornings. Up to the end of November, for the first time on record there have been no air frosts at Huncoat.

“Conditions are likely to be generally unsettled, with spells of cloudy weather interspersed with clearer, showery periods.

Among the lengthy list of Christmas events in East Lancashire this weekend is Santa’s visit to Thompson Park Miniature Railway and the Be Bosom Friends 5k Santa Fun Run in Barnoldswick on Sunday.

There will be markets or Winter Wonderlands in Brockholes, Roe Lee, Clitheroe, Accrington, Ramsbottom, Rawtenstall, Burnley College and Oakhill Academy in Whalley, with a Victorian Christmas special at Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham.

The forecast is for a dry Saturday, with highs of 5C and lows of 2C, and sleet on Sunday with a high of 4C and low of 1C.