WITH cold weather forecast for the rest of December, Paddy Power book- makers has slashed the odds on a white Christmas.

"We're offering odds of 3/1 for snow to be officially reported at Dublin Airport any time Christmas Day. These odds have been cut from 6/1. It's the shortest odds we've ever had so far away from Christmas. So much for global warming.

"If it's a white Christmas, we'll pay out €10,000. It's been a very popular bet this year, we put it on early due to demand," according to a Paddy Power spokesman.

The last time that Ireland had a white Christmas was in 2004.

Frosty and icy conditions have been evident throughout the country for the past three weeks and things will not get any better over the next few weeks.

Motorists were yesterday urged to drive with extreme caution due to icy conditions across the country. Frost is forecast for today but temperatures will improve tomorrow and Tuesday.

A number of cars skidded off the Borrisoleigh and Nenagh Road in County Tipperary, where temperatures plummeted on Friday night.