Very merry revellers get an early start to Christmas Day festivities

Festive partygoers have been pictured lighting up Britain’s high streets with just three sleeps to go before Christmas.

Temperatures remained moderate at 9C, allowing revellers to hit the clubs without being swaddled in coats and jackets.

Can can dancing in the street, high fives and some big-hearted embraces were on display as merrymakers enjoyed their nights.

But the party spirit was not for everyone as at least one man was arrested by police in Leeds. 

Pose for the camera! A trio wave their arms as the enjoy a festive evening out in Leeds

It’s a thumbs up from these three partygoers out in Newcastle last night

Two glamorously dressed women in festive fur coats take to the street of Soho 

A man in Leeds was led away by police in handcuffs during a Christmas night out

A man and woman embrace in Newcastle city centre, despite the wet weather

The Scottish Highlands is the only part of the UK likely to see a white Christmas, according to the Met Office.

Christmas is likely to be wet and cloudy for a lot of the country with the heavy snowfall coming two weeks too early to give most people a white Christmas.

Instead, warm air from the South West will push temperatures as high as 13C in southern England on Friday and with it a band of rain will sweep through England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Peace this Christmas! A partygoer in platform stilettos navigates Leeds city centre

Ballet kick for joy! A group of merrymakers get into the Christmas spirit in Newcastle

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Salute for Santa! The party showed no signs of abating in Newcastle yesterday evening

Jingle all the way! Newcastle partygoers showed off their Geordie charm to our photographer

A duo dressed in beige take to the streets of Newcastle for a Christmas drink with just three sleeps to go until the big day

At the same time, temperatures will hover above freezing in northern Scotland and lower levels there may see some snow on Christmas night as cool winds push in from the north-west and blow across the whole UK.

After this band of rain, conditions will be drier in the South and East of England with blustering winds across the North West, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: ‘It’s going to be a cloudy and wet Christmas weekend for some of the UK and any wintry showers are most likely to be confined to the far northwest of Scotland.

‘A white Christmas, which according to the Met Office is defined by a single snowflake falling anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day, is most likely in the northwest of Scotland later on the day on Sunday, with some snow moving in from the north-west as part of a cooler pool of air and some snow could even be seen in the northwest of the UK at lower levels overnight on Christmas Day and into Boxing Day.

A group of girls pose proudly in Newcastle’s Bigg Market just days before Christmas

A happy group of partygoers march through Newcastle city centre on the way to their next pub

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A festive partygoers sports an impressive Christmas jumper in Newcastle

A woman kisses her friend while wearing a fascinator with Christmas baubles

‘What we’re looking at for Christmas Eve is staying mainly dry for southern and eastern parts but areas to the northwest will see some showers and some longer spells of rain for a time, including some heavy rain as well for a short time and some snow falling over the high ground of Scotland.

‘Some breezy conditions as well on Christmas Eve, some gusty winds especially in the north and west of the UK. 

‘That scene continues into Christmas Day with unsettled weather in charge of the UK regime at the moment.’

Can can embrace! A group of Santa hat-wearing revellers have a friendly hug in Leeds

Dance for joy! Two partygoers in Leeds can hardly contain their joy on a night out

Peace and joy to all! Two woman prose for a photographer in Leeds while enjoying a festive night out

A reveller in Leeds shows off a fabulous Christmas jumper outside a club

Joy to all! Partygoers spilled out on to the streets of Soho while having a Christmas drink

For the weekend in general, he said the country would face typical weather for this time of year, with “a mild, more unsettled pattern in charge”.

He added: “Strong winds and rain continue for north and western areas in particular. Further south won’t be immune to the occasional shower but the drier weather is expected in central and eastern parts of England.”