EAST Lancashire could wake up to its first true white Christmas in 16 years with weatherman forecasting a 20 per cent chance of snow on December 25.

Bookies are offering odds of 8-1 for snow in the North West on Christmas day, although Leeds is the white Christmas "hot spot" according to the bookmakers William Hill.

Weather expert Ted Boden, who records the weather in Chatburn, said the last time there was a snowfall in East Lancashire on December 25 was in 1984.

But last year was an almost white Christmas with sleet falling on Christmas Day.

Mr Boden said: "I can't say if it will be a white Christmas or not this year because I just record the weather, I'm not a forecaster.

"But last year there was sleet, in 1996 there was snow on Boxing Day and in 1995 there was snow on Christmas Eve. 1984 was the last time snow actually fell on Christmas Day."

Temperatures are set to dip still lower on Boxing Day.