reduction of lying snow at christmas across europe since 1950. increasingly, for lots of us, any dreams of a white christmas in the future will be just that — dreams. matt taylor, bbc news. that takes us nicely into the weather prospects for the next few days, hello to chris fawkes. i thought i'd start off with this winter sun rise across the snow—covered shetland isles at the moment, it's the winter solstice today. for most of the uk today, a lot of cloud around but these north—westerly winds blowing across the mountains of the republic of ireland and wales knocking a few holes into the cloud so a bit of sunshine for wales, the south midlands and southern england, otherwise quite cloudy with rain across north—western areas, cold air

across north—western areas, cold air across the far north of the uk and that continues to bring some snow showers into shetland, we seen some in the last hour, temperature struggling to get much of anything above freezing here but otherwise it's a mild day and the mild air flow continues overnight tonight. we've got this weather front that starts to bump into some of the cold air and it starts to bump into some of the cold airand it could starts to bump into some of the cold air and it could start to turn to snow across northern most areas of scotland. meanwhile, western scotland. meanwhile, western scotland you will see outbreaks of rain, flooding concerns with the rain, flooding concerns with the rain given that it will be heavy and persistent. foremost, a mild night but with lower temperatures across the far north of scotland as an additional risk of icy stretches and tomorrow, if you are planning a journey across northern scotland bearin journey across northern scotland bear in mind we could see some accumulations of snow through the morning. it might be worth delaying adjourning until the afternoon because ultimately the snow is more likely to turn back to rain for northern scotland as milder air starts to work in later in the day. elsewhere, a similar data today, a lot of cloud around, a few spots of drizzle across western coasts and hills, a few breaks at the clouds

coming through across the east midlands and at times in southern england. take a look at the forecast for sunday, christmas eve, another big travel day. strong winds for western scotland could cause a few issues and over the east of the pennines that winds could gust to 50-70 pennines that winds could gust to 50—70 miles an hour, it could blow over high sided vehicles so it could be a day where we could see transport disruption, it might blow a few trees down as well. for christmas day, for the vast majority of the country, we are in the mild air so there's no chance of a white christmas at all. for most of us it's going to be a grey, pretty wet christmas with outbreaks of rain, temperatures reaching double figures. across northern scotland we still have the cold air in place and we could start to see some of the rain across the hills of northern scotland turn to snow, so although it will not be a white christmas for the vast majority of you, there could be one or two who see snowfall across northern scotland into christmas day itself and boxing day

looks quieter for most with some welcome sunshine for a walk. that is the latest. and that's bbc news at one. now it's time to join our colleagues for the news where you are. here all six premier league sides that backed a breakaway super league say they stand by uefa now. double 16, another win for the teenager taking the world championship by storm. and there is double defeat for england, losing the one—day and now the t20 series to the west indies.

all six premier league sides that backed that breakaway european super league have reaffirmed their commitment to playing in uefa's european competitions. this follows yesterday's ruling by the european court of justice that the yesterday's ruling by the european court ofjustice that the ban by uefa and fifa on clubs from joining that european super league was unlawful. arsenal and liverpool have followed suit. they were founder members of breakaway league, before withdrawing their support after a fans backlash. liverpool say their involvement has discontinued. the guners say they will continue po take part in uefa cover is theings. foot —— competitions. football

supporters the main reason why this game belongs to them and the players. they are the protagonists and make this game so enjoyable and we have to look after them and their opinion is important. flarer we have to look after them and their opinion is important.— opinion is important. over the past two and a half— opinion is important. over the past two and a half years _ opinion is important. over the past two and a half years of— opinion is important. over the past two and a half years of the - opinion is important. over the past two and a half years of the original| two and a half years of the original super league founder members, only barcelona and real madrid have continued to support it. they say it is a great day for football. the real manager agreed. translation: i think it was an — real manager agreed. translation: i think it was an important _ real manager agreed. translation: i think it was an important decision - think it was an important decision for football. think it was an important decision forfootball. forall think it was an important decision for football. for all football. for all clubs. some clubs are not convinced, but there is not going to be a monopoly to manage it, i think it will be positive for clubs and players. i think the schedule can be improved, especially the international schedule, which worries us a lot. in the end time

will tell if it will be positive. but i think it will be something positive for everyone. the but i think it will be something positive for everyone. the final of fifa's club — positive for everyone. the final of fifa's club world _ positive for everyone. the final of fifa's club world cup _ positive for everyone. the final of fifa's club world cup takes - positive for everyone. the final of fifa's club world cup takes place | fifa's club world cup takes place later in saudi arabia. manchester city face the south american champions. pep guardiola's side are looking to become the fourth english club to win the trophy after manchester united, liverpool and chelsea. it manchester united, liverpool and chelsea. , manchester united, liverpool and chelsea. m ., manchester united, liverpool and chelsea. , ' . ., chelsea. it is so difficult to come here. so difficult. _ chelsea. it is so difficult to come here. so difficult. so _ chelsea. it is so difficult to come here. so difficult. so we - chelsea. it is so difficult to come here. so difficult. so we have - chelsea. it is so difficult to come here. so difficult. so we have to| here. so difficult. so we have to do, we have to win the league, you have to win the champions league and both competitions are tough. and thatis both competitions are tough. and that is why it is a unique and we will give all we have to do something that remains, remains forever, when you win this competition, it remains for ever. one game in the premier league

tonight, aston villa are playing sheffield united. if villa win they will be top of the table. you have go back 25 years for the last time they led the table at this stage. a win for united would see them off the bottom of the table. we won't have all our _ the bottom of the table. we won't have all our players, _ the bottom of the table. we won't have all our players, it _ the bottom of the table. we won't have all our players, it is - the bottom of the table. we won't have all our players, it is still - the bottom of the table. we won't have all our players, it is still a i have all our players, it is still a young and inexperienced group. but young and inexperienced group. but you know, no excuses we go there and whatever group that we pick, we fully expect and demand a committed, together performance, because if not, then you can get pulled apart at places like villa park. it not, then you can get pulled apart at places like villa park.— at places like villa park. if villa move to to _ at places like villa park. if villa move to to top, _ at places like villa park. if villa move to to top, it _ at places like villa park. if villa move to to top, it could - at places like villa park. if villa move to to top, it could be - at places like villa park. if villa move to to top, it could be for| at places like villa park. if villa - move to to top, it could be for less than 2a hours, because tomorrow liverpool play arsenal and the winner would be top for christmas. david james said who he thinks could

have the biggest impact.— david james said who he thinks could have the biggest impact. odegaard is the big player — have the biggest impact. odegaard is the big player forarsenal. _ have the biggest impact. odegaard is the big player forarsenal. other - the big playerforarsenal. other players have qualities, but odegaard pulls the strings, he gets the opposition out of position in order for him to sort of control the game. i have seen manchester city do it, keep him quiet. ifjones starts, i think liverpool could win 3—1. david rhea is starting i'm going to go 3—1 to liverpool, not knowing the team of course. ~ . ., ., to liverpool, not knowing the team ofcourse. ~ . ., ., , of course. much for from david james on the latest — of course. much for from david james on the latest edition _ of course. much for from david james on the latest edition of _ of course. much for from david james on the latest edition of the _ on the latest edition of the football news show.

premier league football is nonstop for the next few weeks. not every manager is a fan of the festive fixtures. but the burnley boss isn't complaining. i fixtures. but the burnley boss isn't complaining-— fixtures. but the burnley boss isn't complaining. i have always loved it. because it doesn't _ complaining. i have always loved it. because it doesn't make _ complaining. i have always loved it. because it doesn't make sense! - because it doesn't make sense! sometimes i do have this and it is a romantic feeling of england sometimes, it is the country of common—sense where sometimes things that don't make sense get appreciated by everybody and it doesn't make sense. you have the christmas period, yourfamilies are travelling in and pressure of people in your house and you know if you see even half a smile you worry that will affect your game, because you're in a different mind set. yet, it is the most special period. the former wales _ it is the most special period. the former wales rugby captain has revealed he was diagnosed with a

heart condition in the final months of his career. the most capped player in history, he retired in may and joined toulon on a short—term contract. during medical he was found to have a heart condition. he said players should be checked more thoroughly and often. no doubt the story of the worlds darts, the 16—year—old is through to the final, beating andrew gilding to get into the third round. littler won back—to—backjunior world the third round. littler won back—to—back junior world titles. the third round. littler won back—to—backjunior world titles. he back—to—back junior world titles. he says back—to—backjunior world titles. he says he is having to get used to the attention from players that he looks up attention from players that he looks up to. attention from players that he looks u- to. . ,

attention from players that he looks u. to, ., , . ., attention from players that he looks uto. . , ., ., attention from players that he looks uto. . ., up to. that is coming from a 16-time world champion. _ up to. that is coming from a 16-time world champion. and _ up to. that is coming from a 16-time world champion. and mike _ up to. that is coming from a 16-time world champion. and mike has - up to. that is coming from a 16-time world champion. and mike has won i world champion. and mike has won four orfive. so it is world champion. and mike has won four or five. so it is crazy. world champion. and mike has won four orfive. so it is crazy. seeing my idols comparing me to everyone in the top 96. my idols comparing me to everyone in the to 96. ., �*, my idols comparing me to everyone in thetobg. ., , the top 96. england's cricketers have lost their _ the top 96. england's cricketers have lost their deciding - the top 96. england's cricketers have lost their deciding t20 - the top 96. england's cricketers have lost their deciding t20 in l the top 96. england's cricketers l have lost their deciding t20 in the west indies. that is the hard to take, because they fought back in the series from two down. they were out for 132 and the west indieses reached their target in the final over. it is always a precarious business, however simple they make it look. salt resumed his big hitting. easy. well, it's not. salt made 38. no more. west indies tighten ened up their bolding. held. in the trinidad evening, west indies only needed 133. who would be the

winner? not rutherford, out for 30. winner? not rutherford, out for30. held by winner? not rutherford, out for 30. held by curran. winner? not rutherford, out for30. held by curran. only 11 winner? not rutherford, out for 30. held by curran. only 11 needed off 12 balls. russell found livingston. when hope threw his bat, he did it with certainty. victory two four balls to spare. this will help. sydney sixers have won their latest game in the big bash. they didn't get off to the best start against adelaide. vince losing his wicket. adelaide. vince losing his wicket. adelaide struggled to get there. and there was a dramatic finish. this six taking the match to the last ball. needed another boundary for the win and came upjust

ball. needed another boundary for the win and came up just short. they won by one run. lots more on the bbc sport web—site of course. building up sport web—site of course. building up to another big weekend in the football. but from me and the team, thatis football. but from me and the team, that is all for mow. —— for now. you're watching bbc news with me catherine byaruhanga. greater manchester police has announced it has launched a criminal investigation into the child abduction of alex batty, who went missing from his home in oldham at the age of 11. the teenager, who's now 17 was found in france 10 days ago — and has been speaking publicly for the first time since his return to the uk. in an interview with the sun newspaper, he explained how he began to have doubts about his nomadic lifestyle a few years ago. he went on to say that he decided to return to the uk

for a better future. the first few years when i was in spain, it was a vacation really. spending most days doing whatever i wanted — reading, going to the beach, spending time out. reallyjust being on a vacation. that was until around 1a, where i started needing to pick up my own slack. worked to help with food, rent, there was a lot of construction work, demolition work and decoration work, painting walls, renovation work. i had a nonexistent social life. to be honest, as much as i could i would try and play video games online, because i had a couple online friends. but you know, you can't really class them as friends, can you?

and the entire six—year span i made one friend and it was the only person really i had met for the entire six years that i was even close to my age. i decided to come back to england when i was around 1a to be honest. i started weighing up the pros and the cons from each lifestyle. and after a couple of months of contemplation i realised england was definitely the way forward. from the past few years, i could envision my next my future years and it just wasn't the way forward what was best for my future. so, at around 1a i thought, i started thinking about going back to england. it was a normal day and i just decided, ok, it's time to leave.