Snowy scenes captured around the country as UK sees White Christmas

Several areas saw snow settle before sunrise

Snowfall was spotted in areas of England from Suffolk up to Northumberland on Christmas Day, leaving some areas blanketed as the sun rose.

The Met Office officialy declared a White Christmas after reports of snow in Leconfield in Humberside around 5am, with Wattisham in Suffolk reporting snow at the same time.

Pictures shared from around the country charted the wintry weather from when snow first fell in the early morning to when families set out to make the most of the day.

Traditionally, a White Christmas was counted only if snow fell on the Met Office headquarters in London but now snowfall anywhere in the UK would lead to a declaration.

The last White Christmas came in 2017 when 11 per cent of weather stations around the country recorded snowfall. 

Snow falls early on Christmas Day in Hessle, East Yorkshire (PA)

However, the last time a majority of the country saw White Christmas was in 2010, when snow was recorded on the ground at 83 per cent of UK weather stations.

A dusting of snow early as the sun rose over Hull on Christmas Day (Lee McLean/SWNS)

On Christmas morning, other parts of the country were flooded after heavy rainfall and more than 1,300 people living along the River Ouse in Bedfordshire were advised to leave their homes.

Snow tops houses in Hexham, Northumberland (PA)

Elsewhere in the UK, weather was crisp and dry throughout the day ahead of the arrival of Storm Bella on Boxing Day.

A family take advantage of the Christmas Day snow with a trip out sledging on the hills near Hexham, Northumberland (PA)

“Danger to life” warnings and dozens of flood alerts were issued across the UK in anticipation of severe gales and heavy downpours as the storm sweeps in from the west.

There was snow in the Cairngorms on Christmas Eve (PA)

Gusts of up to 80mph in exposed parts of the south and southwest are expected overnight on Boxing Day, while some higher parts of the country are likely to see 40-60mm of rainfall.