White Christmas or £50 refund

We all love a white Christmas and one hotelier in Scotland is so convinced that it'll snow next week, he's promised to give guests a £50 refund if it doesn't.

Andrew Cox, owner of the Loch Kinord Hotel in Dinnet, Aberdeenshire, is offering guests a three-night festive deal that includes bed and breakfast, Christmas lunch and a white winter wonderland on 25 December.

He is offering the package for the third year, reports the Daily Record, having been left nearly £3000 out of pocket due to no-snow refunds over the past two years.

But Andrew and wife Jenny hope their luck will change this year. "We started it because we hadn't had snow for a couple of years and thought we must be due a white Christmas," Andrew said.

"We just thought the odds were going to be in our favour. But it hasn't worked like that, so it would be good if it comes this year. It's always quite nice to have a bit of snow for Christmas."

With the credit crunch and falling hotel rates making things tough for Scottish hoteliers, let's hope Andrew's wish comes true this Christmas.