FORECASTERS have provided a glimmer of hope for those dreaming of a white Christmas in Cumbria.

In the 30-day outlook from Christmas Day to January 8, 2019, the Met Office states the forecast looks fairly changeable over the festive period, with showers or longer spells of rain, and possible wintry weather over higher ground.

The outlook, on the Met Office website, adds: "Temperatures look likely to be around normal for the time of year.

"However, as we head into the New Year, there is the chance of high pressure becoming established close to the UK.

"This would bring drier and colder weather, but also an increasing chance of some snow showers and nighttime frosts."

Last year, those dreaming of a white Christmas had their wishes granted, as parts of the county saw snow fall for a couple of hours.

For years, Christmas was declared "white" if a single flake of snow was observed by a professional meteorologist falling on the roof of the London Weather Centre.

The Met Office has now broadened its definition to extend to other parts of the country, although the snow still has to be recorded by a professional.

The high of 12.6C is a few degrees off the record for the warmest Christmas, when 15.6C (60.08F) was recorded at Killerton, Devon, in 1920.

And while mild, it was still chillier than 2016 when temperatures reached 15C (59F) in a number of places including Hull, east Yorkshire.