Kent is experiencing one of the mildest Christmas Days on record.

It follows the Met Office provisionally recording the highest daily minimum temperature for Christmas Day.

Temperatures recorded in East Malling failed to fall below 12.4C, beating the previous record of 11.5C measured at Waddon in Croydon in 1983.

In terms of maximum temperatures, the mercury has so far hit 13.2C at Exeter Airport and Merryfield in Somerset, which makes Monday the warmest December 25 since 2018, when meteorologists recorded 13.3C.

Forecasters had thought this year could be the warmest Christmas Day since 2016, with predicted highs of 14C, and maximum temperatures could still change.

The Met Office announced the minimum temperature record on X, formerly known as Twitter, this morning, posting: “It has been a very mild 24 hours across parts of the UK.

“Provisionally this Christmas we have recorded the highest daily minimum temperature for Christmas Day on record, with both Exeter Airport and East Malling not falling below 12.4C.”

The new record further shattered dreams of a white Christmas for most of the UK, with milder temperatures continuing after the country saw its warmest Christmas Eve for more than 20 years.

However, parts of Scotland saw some snow as expected.

Predicted maximum temperatures of 14C in London and much of Kent would make it the mildest Christmas Day since 2016 when temperatures reached 15.1C.

And while the wider weather picture during the festive period ahead is set to stay unsettled at times, temperatures will remain mild, the Met Office says.

There will be a chilly start to Boxing Day but plenty of sunshine first thing and as the day progresses.

Into the afternoon temperatures will be a little closer to normal but still around 9-10C.

Low pressure starts to move in from Wednesday bringing heavy rain and strong winds around the coastal parts of the UK.

The average maximum temperature for December is 7C.