WEATHER experts are predicting Hampshire might actually see snow fall on Christmas Day.

The Met Office says conditions on December 25 mean there is a chance of the city being sprinkled in the white stuff – although it is unlikely to settle.

But it’s led to bookies cutting the odds of a White Christmas in Southampton to 8-1, down from 12-1 last week.

A spokesman for Ladbrokes said: “The Met Office has said that a White Christmas is possible and we have seen increased activity from customers across the country since Friday morning.

“If a single snowflake falls in Southampton on Christmas Day, for example on St Mary’s Stadium, and the Met Office confirms it, we will pay out.

“We were expecting a very mild Christmas and we had not really taken a penny in this market last week – we were even considering suspending betting because it was going to be so mild until the Met Office made this announcement.”

A spokesman for the Met Office said temperatures will get colder on Christmas Day meaning rain showers could turn into snow and sleet.

The spokesman said: “We can’t be sure where these showers will be but they may be heavy enough to bring down some sleet and snow. The problem is you cannot pinpoint where they will be; they just turn up here and there.

“It is only a chance and it is more likely to be sleet but it could happen.”

But temperatures will stay above freezing during Christmas week, dropping as low as 3C on Christmas Day but staying between 8C and 11C during the day.