It looks like there will be no White Christmas for Nottingham this year but today's weather will remain dry with sunny intervals throughout. From around 8am-4pm temperatures are set to settle at around 6C, peaking to 7C at 1pm. Sunshine is forecast until this evening with some cloud and a spot of rain, also at around 1pm. This evening temperatures will drop to lows of around 2-3C but remain dry with frost developing overnight along with fog patches. Easterly winds will rise to 10mph at midday. The forecast falls into line with much of the rest of England and Wales, with only some parts of Scotland expected to experience any snowy showers. Boxing Day will continue with a similar pattern and a chance of some sleet or snow during the evening, with cloud increasing through the afternoon. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for several regions across the UK for the Christmas period with ice likely to develop on untreated road surfaces. This weather warning has not been extended to the East Midlands.

SHOPPERS looking for Boxing Day bargains will be able to jump on buses from 6am.

Nottingham City Transport will be running services on 6, 10, 17, 27, 28, 36, 39, 41, 43, 44, 45, 48, 58, 68/69, 77 and 89.

Marketing manager Anthony Carver-Smith said: "Last year we ran our Boxing Day buses for the first time since the mid-1980s and we received such positive feedback from both our passengers, and city centre businesses, that we are really pleased to be able to offer the service again this year."

The services will also help those who are working.

The Nottingham BID – the organisation which aims to boost income for businesses by attracting more visitors to the city centre – is backing the move.

"Boxing Day is the biggest day of the year for many shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, and of course the theatre for the Pantomime," said Neil Fincham, BID director and manager of The Exchange. "To not have the added stress of working out how to get their staff into the city is an enormous relief. NCT has played a big part in ensuring the tills of Nottingham's retail and leisure outlets will be ringing from the beginning to the end of the day."

NCT routes running on Boxing Day are: 6, 10, 17, 27, 28, 36, 39, 41, 43, 44, 45, 48, 58, 68/69, 77 and 89. 

It was 70 years ago that Alec Townsend was spending his Christmas hundreds of mile from home supporting the war effort in Austria.

The 91-year-old was among the many residents celebrating this year at the Woodthorpe View care home in Woodthorpe.

As he tucked into a Christmas pudding, he recollected celebrating the festive period as a teenager across Europe and North Africa working as a clerk from 1943-1946.

He said: "It was an eye-opener, you would just look around for as long as you could and try to see everything you could see.

"They tried to make it as near as possible to the English Christmas as they could - we took life as it came to us.

"It often wasn't as you knew it - we were in all so many different places.

"People you knew as being enemies they became people you knew as friends."

Born and bred in Carlton, he said not much has changed about Christmas since he was youngster.

He added: "You used to celebrate as your mums and dads did with Santa, parties and a nice dinner - very much as it is today.

"Christmas is an expensive time, you try to buy the nicest things you can for everyone but it's still a great laugh."

Derek Hawkins, 83, has been at Woodthorpe View for three years and was enjoying traditional Christmas dinner with friends.

He said: "It's all the enjoyment of it, good friendship and talking together that I like the most.

"The most memorable Christmas I had was when we had that great lump of snow drop on us in 1948.

"We opened our front door all the snow came in and we had to dig ourselves out."

Rhoda Ellis, owner of the care home, spends the Christmas Day with the residents every year, arranging dinner, present opening and evening activities.

She said: "We treat them like they're family so you would support them as best as you possibly could.

"You can't do anything less at this time of the year; if you don't put your whole heart into this job you shouldn't bother."

Sleet, snow and rain are expected to spread across England over the next two days, according to forecasters. 

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning saying that through Boxing Day and into Saturday there will be a risk of several centimetres of snow settling even at low level. 

This has been extended across the UK including the East Midlands.

The forecaster has said this could cause disruption with risk of ice on the roads.

A statement by the Chief Forecaster says: "There remains much more uncertainty than average regarding the track of this depression which in turn leads to uncertainty about the location of the heaviest precipitation and how much snow there will be. 

"Where snow does occur accumulations of 2 to 4 cm are likely even to lower levels and in excess of 10 cm possible."

As of 3.30pm today, Boxing Day is set to remain overcast with rain predicted from 6pm-10pm with sleet from 11pm.

This is expected to continue until Saturday at 6am with temperatures dropping to 0C.

Stores in Nottingham are slashing their prices and preparing for a rush of shoppers for this year's Boxing Day sale.

Shops in the city centre will be lowering their prices for the Bank Holiday to offer leftover Christmas stock to customers at affordable prices.

Independent street wear fashion brand Prisma Clothing, in the Broadmarsh Centre, is offering up to 40 per off its clothing lines instore and online.

James Thomas, co-owner of the store, said: "We hope our sale is going to bring lots of people into our store.

"February is a great time for us to produce new stock for the rest of the year, so clearing some stock and shelf space after Christmas is ideal."

Digital photography and photo printing store Jessops, in Clumber Street, will be staffing up on the day.

Nigel Coulow, the shop's manager, said: "More members of staff will be working on Boxing Day to prepare for a rush of people looking for deals.

"All our offers are kept under wraps so the best price drops don't get out and also because we will have to see what we've got left to offer after Christmas."

The intu centres in the city will be opening their doors early to allow shoppers to get their hands on bargains in the early hours of the morning – including Next, in the Victoria Centre, which opens at 6am.

Adam Tamsett, general manager at intu Broadmarsh, said: "The Boxing Day sales are a must for shoppers looking to bag a bargain."

Nigel Wheatley, general manager at intu Victoria Centre, said: "We have been doing everything we can to help make things that little bit easier for shoppers."

Other chain stores in Nottingham will be knocking up to 50 per cent off their seasonal stock for the traditional after-Christmas sale.

Department store Debenhams, in Long Row West, will be kicking off the day with its biggest ever sale where it will be offering customers 50 per cent off thousands of items.

Boots, in the Victoria Centre, will be sticking to its ritual and knocking 50 per cent off selected Christmas and fine fragrance gift sets.

Mobile phone provider Vodafone is offering up to 40 per cent off selected phones, pay monthly price plans and accessories and the recently opened Radley store, in Exchange Walk, is offering customers up to 50 per cent off key autumn/winter styles.

And the deals aren't limited to in store. Many shops and brands began lowering their prices online on Christmas Day.

Local fashion designer Kelly Roberts, 24, owns online clothing label Bitter Lollipop.

The Nottingham Trent University graduate is offering customers 40 per cent off her handmade dresses.

She said: "Christmas is quite expensive so it's nice to be able to give back once it has finished."

Online retail giant Amazon started its sale on Christmas Day for a third year running due to customer demand – and the day is predicted to be the retailer's busiest day ever.

The seller is offering over 1,600 products at cut-back prices in the run up to New Year.

Christopher North, managing director at Amazon.co.uk, said: "It is our biggest day of the year for downloads of books, apps, music, films and TV shows as people look to enjoy the new devices they have received on Christmas morning."

• Next, Victoria Centre, 6am 
• Debenhams, Long Row West, 7am
• Boots, Victoria Centre, 7am 
• House of Fraser, Victoria Centre, 8am 
• Marks and Spencer, Listergate, 8am 
• Currys PC World, Trinity Square, 9am 
• Superdrug, Victoria Centre, 10am 
• HMV, Victoria Centre, 9am 
• Argos, stores across the city, 9am 
• The Body Shop, Albert Street, 9am 
• Sports Direct, Clumber Street, 10am 
• Ted Baker, Bridlesmith Gate, 9:30am 
• French Connection, Victoria Street, 10am 
• Game, Angel Row, 9am 
• New Look, Listergate, 9am 
• River Island, Listergate, 10am

While most of us were unwrapping presents or tucking into turkey, some were still working way to ensure that we all had a good time this Christmas. From hospitals and luncheon clubs to charities and police services these were just some of the people who were out and about yesterday spreading good will and helping others:

I'm at the Bridewell Cusody Suite in Nottingham meeting police and detention staff. It's been a really busy morning. It's a bit short staffed but they're working very hard.

Paddy Tipping

I work in the Paediatric Critical Care Unit at QMC. We've got a lot babies who are critically unwell and children. The whole team is working flat out.

Dr Patrick Davies

Today is a regular day at the project, people coming and going but we'll be having a Christmas meal, we're just trying to enjoy ourselves.

Kevin Curtis - project manager at Canaan Trust

This is our first Christmas here. I do enjoy this, you often don't get into the spirit if you don't spend a bit at the pub.

Lorraine Swain, landlady at the Robin Hood and Little John pub

This is the first year we've had a Christmas meal at the luncheon club. It's a humbling experience to see everyone's faces.

Josie Marsters, Trustee for Age Concern 

Christmas midwives in Nottingham assisted with the birth of 18 new-born babies.

As of 4pm on December 25, six infants were born at the City Hospital while the Queen's Medical Centre saw 12 new-borns.

One mother gave birth as early as three minutes past midnight.

Labour suite co-ordinator at the Queen's Medical Centre Sue Hayes said it had been a busy year.

She added: "We've had quite a few babies - Christmas is usually very much like any other day in the year.

"It's been lovely, it's a very special day and we're all very lucky to be a part of it."

Sister Victoria Barratt at the City Hospital added: "It's always very nice; the mothers don't want to be in hospital - we just try to help them get home as soon as possible."

Did you see Christmas Eve's national lottery results?

Make sure to check your Lotto ticket to see if you have won big.

The winning Lotto numbers were 7, 9, 13, 44, 47 and 48. The bonus ball was 22.

One person has won the jackpot worth more than £8m.

There were a total of 317,168 winners.

Tomorrow will see the EuroMillions Mega Friday with a £20million EuroMillions jackpot.

The next Lotto and Thunderball draw takes place on Saturday with a top prize estimated of more than £4.1m.

AMBER and Dan Ward have the best Christmas present they could ever wish for – their daughter Betty-Lou. After four years of trying for a family, their dream finally came true earlier this year following IVF treatment in Nottingham. Celebrating their first Christmas as a family, Amber, 25, said: "It was magical. She enjoyed unwrapping the presents, even though she didn't realise what was going on. I have everything I ever wanted. She has filled my Christmas with love and laughter." The couple, from Shirebrook, are among the 1,500 patients who have fertility treatment every year at the centre, at Nottingham Business Park. Five-month-old Betty-Lou was born following a procedure called ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) where, in a laboratory, a single sperm is injected into an egg to fertilise it. The fertilised egg is then transferred into the womb. Having IVF forced admin worker Amber to confront one of her biggest fears. "I hate needles, so this whole process was horrific for me. You have blood taken every third day... but it is worth it in the end," she said. Amber, who is on maternity leave from her job at a lettings agency, and Dan, 29, who works for RS Motorhomes, in Blyth, pulled out all the stops for their first Christmas Day with Betty-Lou. Amber added: "We've got everything decorated and Betty has a little elf outfit. I'm making the most of every single day. Every day I make sure that as soon as she wakes up she sees me smiling, that we have fun, we have playtime and make every moment special." Their consultant, Dr Maha Ragunath, medical director at CARE Fertility, Nottingham, said: "This Christmas will no doubt be a very exciting time now Betty-Lou is here."

Click here to read more about baby Betty-Lou.

More than 1,000 people queued in the cold to grab bargains at the Boxing Day sales. Shoppers were standing outside the Victoria Centre from 2am waiting for Next to open. Despite being four hours early those at the front of the queue were happy to take part in the annual tradition. Mum Tia Bishop has been going to the sales for the last four years. The 26-year-old said: "I love the fun of the Boxing Day sales and I have come to stock up on clothes for the kids." People were allowed into the shopping centre in groups of 80 before Next opened at just before 6am. Mum of five Natalie Wakeling, of Barent Walk, Top Valley, has been visiting the sales for the last 10 years. The 33-year-old said: "It is the kids clothes we come for. "I go to sales three times as year and my tactic is grabbing as much as I possibly can in all sizes and then sorting through them to see what I want."

Melanie Pemberton, also known as Melanie Row, has not been heard from or seen since calling police from a phone box on Christmas Day.

The 34-year-old spoke to officers at about 6.30pm, from a phone box in Radford Boulevard on December 25.

Since that call officers have been trying to locate Melanie to make sure she is safe and well.

She is described as white, of slim build, 5ft 7" tall with shoulder length ginger hair and blue eyes.

She has a north western accent. She currently lives in Sneinton, but is not at home.

If you have any information contact police on 101.

Shoppers queued from 6.30am in a bid to bag the best bargains at Debenhams' Boxing Day sale.

Around 50 people patiently waited outside the department store, in Long Row, for its 7am opening on Friday December 26.

Among the crowds was mum-of-two Kate Cooke who has hit the sales with her family for the last six years.

The 42-year-old, from Clifton, said: "We go straight round to the shoes and then work our way up the floors and then down again in a different direction.

"The girls are given money for Christmas so we come down to the sales and they pick out what they like - it is an extension of Christmas Day because it is when they get their main presents.

"It is fun getting a bargain. Most of the year you just get throw away stuff from Primark. We will keep coming every year."

Front the queue was West Bridgford businesswoman Hetvi Parekh.

She said: "We went to have a look at Next first but the queue was all the way down to Argos so we thought it wasn't really worth waiting in the cold just for clothes.

"There's a bigger range of items in Debenhams but I'm surprised I am at the front."

Heavy snow is to hit Nottingham tonight.

Forecasters are predicting sleet at 10pm and heavy snow just an hour later - with the icy conditions to continue until 4am.

The Met Office has put yellow weather warnings in place and is urging people to be prepared.

However, temperatures are not likely to dip below zero and the snow may not settle as a result.

In the past 53 years a snowflake has fallen on Christmas Day 38 times. But there has been a widespread covering of snow on the ground – where more than 40 per cent of stations in the UK reported snow on the ground at 9am – only four times in the past 51 years.

Nottingham's last white Christmas was in 2009.

For more weather news go to www.nottinghampost.com/weather

FOODIES in Nottinghamshire left wondering what to do with their left-over Christmas pudding are being given some novel ideas to give the dessert a new lease of life.

The base ingredients - fruit, nuts and sugar - are extraordinarily versatile and lend themselves to a surprising range of other dishes.

One example is a bacon, apple and caramelised plum pudding breakfast.

Break up your pudding into bite-sized pieces. Place a non-stick frying pan on a medium heat with a hefty knob of butter. When it foams, add the pudding and gently fry — reducing the heat if necessary.

Turn the pudding pieces with a spatula. Remove them from the pan and set aside.

Wipe the pan and dry fry thin rashers of streaky bacon slowly until crisp, then drain on kitchen paper and keep warm with the pudding.

Then melt another good knob of butter and fry two apples, cut into slices, on both sides until they colour.

Divide the pudding, bacon and apples between four plates, trickle a little maple syrup over each and add a pinch of ground black pepper. Serve immediately.

Or why not try an open sandwich with cheddar and sprout 'slaw'?

Use a slice of Christmas pudding as you would bread, then top with a few thin slices of cheese.

Mix shredded sprouts with olive oil and a large pinch of fine salt.

Add a mixture of grated carrots, mustard and cress on top of the cheese and serve with chutney.

Or another recipe is sweetmeats with filo noodles and honey and plum pudding

Preheat the oven to 200C. Place a rolled-up sheet of filo pastry on a chopping board and use a sharp knife to cut into thin noodles.

Unravel the strips then wind a few around a lozenge of plum pudding.

Brush a baking sheet with melted butter, place your filo parcels on it side by side — not too close — and then brush them with the remaining melted butter.

Bake until golden then remove from the oven.

When cool, plate them up and trickle the honey all over them and leave to soak it up. Before serving, dust the sweetmeats with icing sugar.

Other ideas to try and plum pudding stuffed with duck fillets, or why not stuff some soft dates with the pudding?

Cash machines which charge people to withdraw money are set to be phased out, under new government plans. 

A third of all cash machines - 20,000 across the country - currently charge up to £5 for withdrawals. 

But this could soon be scrapped, with small businesses offered incentives to make their cashpoints free. 

Local government minister Penny Mordaunt, who has responsibility for the High Street, told the Daily Mail: 'People should not have to pay through the nose to access their cash.

'Free-to-use cash machines are a vital service that we are asking councils to take seriously. Councils can reduce rates for providers that commit to introducing new cash machines into an area, or remove charges on existing machines.

'We want councils to use their powers to discount local business rates to ensure better access to cash machines in all areas and on the High Street."

The average withdrawal fee is £1.70, but 137 machines charge more than £2.50. 

HEALTH experts have warned that more than four in ten cancers could be prevented if people were healthier.

The number equates to 600,000 people in the UK alone.

Smoking it the biggest cause, followed by people having unhealthy diets.

Experts from charity Cancer Research UK are urging people to consider their health while making New Year resolutions and to cut down alcohol intake and do more regular exercise.

The charity has released figures which show that from in the five years between 2007 and 2011 more than 300,000 cases of cancer were linked to smoking.

And another 145,000 were linked to unhealthy diets with high amounts of processed food.

Obesity added 88,000 cases and alcohol

Professor Max Parkin, a Cancer Research UK statistician based at Queen Mary University of London, said: "There's now little doubt that certain lifestyle choices can have a big impact on cancer risk, with research around the world all pointing to the same key risk factors.

"Of course everyone enjoys some extra treats during the Christmas holidays so we don't want to ban mince pies and wine but it's a good time to think about taking up some healthy habits for 2015.

"Leading a healthy lifestyle can't guarantee someone won't get cancer but we can stack the odds in our favour by taking positive steps now that will help decrease our cancer risk in future."

The cancer mortality rate in Nottingham city is 207.8 per 100,000 – the national average is 172 per 100,000.

Around 1,300 people are diagnosed with cancer in the Nottingham local authority area each year and overall, around 50 per cent of those will now survive the disease for at least ten years – double what it was 40 years ago.

Most of the major causes of death are more prevalent in the city due to smoking, obesity and deprivation.

Speaking to the Post earlier this year, Chris Kenny, director of public health for Notts county and Nottingham city, said: "We're adopting a strategic approach.

"We need to support citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles and we are also working hard to improve the early diagnosis of cancers through raising awareness of key symptoms."

For more health stories click here.