New photo UK weather: Britain is set for unseasonably hot weekend

Forget any dreams of a white Christmas – but it could well be a nice day for a walk.

Temperatures could climb as high as 12C (54F) on Christmas Day in the south, forecasters say, although it is likely to be cooler in the north where the maximum is set to be 10C (50F).

Richard Miles, of the Met Office, said: 'On Christmas Day, conditions will probably be ok for most places.

'It will largely be dry and quite cloudy, although anywhere could get the odd shower.'

Boxing Day is also set to be overcast and mostly dry, although Mr Miles said there could be a risk of some drizzle in northern England. 

The last official white Christmas was in 2010, when snow was widespread across Northern Ireland, Scotland, parts of Wales, the Midlands, north-east and far south-west England.

People go for a sunrise swim at Helen's Bay in County Down, Northern Ireland, to celebrate the winter solstice today

People gather for sunrise at Newgrange in Co Meath today as the winter solstice begins, marked by pagan celebrations

The Met Office said conditions were 'extremely unusual' because there was snow on the ground at 83 per cent of weather stations – the highest amount ever recorded.

It comes as rail passengers are faced with more strike misery, while roadworks and engineering are also set to disrupt festive travel.

Guards at Northern Rail and South Western Railway have staged further walkouts in their long-running dispute over drivers taking responsibility for opening and closing doors.

Management accused the RMT rail union of 'ensuring the maximum misery is inflicted at what should be a time of relaxation and enjoyment'.

More strikes have been called at South Western Railway on December 27 and 31, and at Northern for the next five Saturdays to come.

Newgrange is a prehistoric monument in County Meath, consisting of a large circular mound with a stone passageway

Both train companies said the strikes were unnecessary because they have given guarantees to retain two members of staff on every train.

Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said the union 'will not be party to the dilution of safety culture'.   

The 'benign' conditions follow unsettled weather over the weekend, according to the Met Office, although it could also bring similarly mild temperatures for the time of year. 

It comes after the shortest day of the year was marked on Friday with events and activities across Ireland. Visitors gathered at the Neolithic Passage Tomb at Newgrange in Co Meath to celebrate the winter solstice. 

In clear conditions, the dawn sunlight illuminates the inner chamber of the 5,000-year-old tomb. It has been a central ritual in the pagan belief system for thousands of years. 

The mostly dry and cloudy Christmas weather follows an unsettled spell with showers, some heavy and squally.

Over the weekend, including tomorrow, there are likely to be bands of showers moving across the UK and some sunny spells 

An unsettled spell with showers, some heavy and squally, will be seen on Friday - ahead of a dry and cloudy Christmas

Mr Miles said: 'Over the weekend, there are likely to be bands of showers moving across the country and some sunny spells.' 

The settled conditions through Christmas itself is set to continue into the second half of the week and up to New Year, although northern areas could have showers or longer spells of rain.

Frosts are also possible in the north where there are any breaks in the cloud.  

Technically, 2015 was also a white Christmas in the UK with 10 per cent of weather stations recording snow falling, however none reported any snow lying on the ground, the Met Office added.

The shortest day of the year was marked today with events and activities. The sun sets in London this afternoon at 3.35pm

In its long-range forecast covering the beginning of January, the Met Office is predicting a north-south divide.

Drier conditions are set to prevail in the south, but more unsettled weather is likely further north, including some snow on hills.

Its forecast said: 'At the start of this period it is most likely that southern parts will be mostly dry, whilst further north it should be more changeable with spells of rain.

'The weather will probably turn more unsettled for a time during early January. Showers or longer spells of rain, along with strong winds, are likely to affect most parts with some hill snow in the north.

'Further into January, there is an increased chance of a colder but drier than average spell, with the potential for snow across many areas.

'Despite this, some milder, wetter and windier interludes remain possible throughout the period.'

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News Pictures UK weather: Britain is set for unseasonably hot weekend

You don’t have to pack away your bikini just because you’re the wrong side of 20. These body-beautiful stars reveal their secrets to staying in shape and prove you can smoulder in a two-piece, whatever your age. Read on and be bikini inspired!

TEENS
Hayden Panettiere
Size: 8
Age: 18
Height: 5ft 1in
Weight: 8st

To achieve her kick-ass figure, Hayden – who plays cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes – follows the ‘quartering’ rule. She eats only a quarter of the food on her plate, then waits 20 minutes before deciding whether she needs to eat again.

Hayden says: “I don’t have a model’s body, but I’m not one of those crazy girls who thinks that they’re fat. I’m OK with what I have.”

Nicollette says: “I don’t like diets – I see it, I eat it! I believe in eating healthily with lots of protein, vegetables and carbs to give you energy.”

kim cattrall

Size: 10-12
Age: 52
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 9st 4lb

SATC star Kim swears by gym sessions with Russian kettle bells (traditional cast-iron weights) and the South Beach Diet to give her the body she wants. To avoid overeating, Kim has a radical diet trick – squirting lemon juice on her leftovers – so she won’t carry on picking.

Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
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