A rush of wagers has prompted bookmaker Ladbrokes to shorten its odds on the arrival of a white Christmas.

The firm was jingling 6/1 for a snow-covered Dublin this Christmas, but that’s now 5/1, while Cork, Shannon and Knock have all been cut to 4/1 from 5/1.

Belfast is looking the likeliest location to be a winter wonderland this December 25, at the shortest price of 3/1.

Last year Met Éireann calculated that statistically, snow falling at Dublin airport on Christmas Day occurs approximately every 5.9 years, and the last significant covering occurred during the Big Freeze of 2010.

Hayley O’Connor of Ladbrokes said: “Frosty weather has people dreaming of a white Christmas and interest in the betting has increased over the past couple of days.

“Records over the past 70 years show punters could be on the money and another cold snap would certainly see the odds further on the slide.”

The bookmaker is also offering 25/1 that Ireland’s match against Australia this Saturday will have an in-play weather delay due to harsh conditions.