The chances of a white Christmas in Suffolk or the rest of East Anglia are increasingly unlikely according to weather forecasters in the region.

With December 25 just a week away many would be hoping (or perhaps dreading) the appearance of snow to set off the festive scene.

However the recent mild weather is set to continue not just next week but possibly until the middle of January, leaving fans of a Dickensian-style Christmas well out of luck.

Phil Garner from Weatherquest said the reason for warmer than average was the source of the wind blowing across the country.

“The bottom line is there is no really major changes into next week and beyond,” he said last night.

It (the wind) is coming in from Spain and the Azores and west Africa so a very mild source at this time of year.”

While these winds from the south and south-west will keep the temperatures above average for this time of year (around 7C/45F) next week will be a little cooler.

However the fall, from around 14/15C this week will only be down to around 11-13C in the daytime.

And instead of night-time temperatures dropping as low as 1C they could remain as high as 9-12C.

“It could always change but we are fairly confident for the next 10 days ahead there will be no major change at all,” Mr Garner said.

“There’s no sign of wintery weather. Our long term charts take us into the middle of January.”

Comparing this winter to last year Mr Garner added: “In terms of oil used last year was relatively mild.

“It’s not unusual to get a relatively mild spell into winter.”

Currently bookmakers William Hill are offering odds of 10/1 for there to be snow recorded at the nearest major airport to Suffolk, in Norwich, on Christmas Day, which would officially make it a white Christmas.