With only a few days to go until the end of the year, the temperature is already 1.08 degrees Centigrade warmer than average, ranking 2004 as one of the mildest periods on record in the "Central England Temperature series", according to the study.

Adding credence to fears of global warming, the only hotter years, apart from 1949, were 1990, 1999 and 2002.

A global study revealed that 2004 was also the fourth warmest year on the planet since records began in 1861, following the trends set in recent times.

"That nine of the 10 warmest years on record have occurred in the last decade is truly remarkable," said Phil Jones of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, which jointly conducted the study.

However the chances of having a snowy Christmas have not yet been ruled out. "The likelihood of a white Christmas for some parts of the UK has significantly increased with northern parts of Britain the most likely to see snowfall during the holiday period," Meteorological Office forecasters said Friday.

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