The flurry of bets came as forecasters predicted the first spell of bitterly cold temperatures would continue throughout the week.

William Hill said punters had been flocking to place bets over the past week and Aberdeen, at 11/4, is favourite for snow to fall on December 25.

The odds in Glasgow are 4/1, with Edinburgh on 7/2 and London on 9/2.

Outbreaks of rain are expected across much of Scotland today, but forecasters said temperatures would drop again tomorrow and drivers were urged to beware of icy roads.

Gritters were out at the weekend to deal with iced-up roads, but the AA warned that half of local authorities in the UK only have enough salt stocks to cope with six days of continuous freezing.

The motoring organisation said industry sources estimated that local councils had a quarter of a million tonnes less road salt in stock than they would have had a decade ago.

AA president Edmund King said: “Around 1,000 people are killed or seriously injured on snowy and icy roads each winter and hospital casualty departments are often inundated with people who have slipped and fallen. Investing in ice and snow clearance, to save elsewhere down the line, makes total sense.

“We accept that not every road can be treated, but we must do a lot more to keep the wheels of the economy turning in winter emergencies and ‘routine’ winter weather. That means getting enough salt stocks in place now.”

Rain is expected to fall on frozen surfaces today, causing hazardous driving conditions.

Forecaster Paul Mott, of MeteoGroup, said: “There is much colder weather on the way. By Wednesday night the whole of the UK will be seeing frost and sub-zero temperatures during the night. It will be feeling bitterly cold.”