'I'm dreaming of a warm Christmas' is a little way off from that famous song lyric.

But that was the case in this area five years ago when we experienced an usually balmy Christmas.

In December 2015, we were enjoying mild temperatures at Christmas with temperatures nudging the mid teens as we headed towards Christmas Day.

The weather on Boxing Day was "spring-like".

As per the tradition swimmers took the plunge for the Weymouth Harbour Christmas Day Swim, but a couple of holidaymakers from Birmingham couldn't wait to have a paddle in the waters of Weymouth Bay.

Eileen Cook, and her friend Jade, had only been in the resort a few minutes after arriving from Birmingham when they decided to have a dip.

Speaking down at the beach, Eileen said: "We arrived from Birmingham 20 minutes ago, stripped off, ran across the sand and took the plunge; it's brilliant."

Dorset Echo:

The Birmingham visitors enjoying their Christmas dip

Dr Richard Wild of WeatherNet said that, despite claims that December has been unseasonably warm, it's not unusual to experience such mild weather this time of year.

He said winds coming all the way from just north of the Equator were making the air there very, very mild. It does happen.

He added: "It's not unprecedented (to see such a mild December) but certainly getting into the rare category."

Nicky Hoar of Dorset Wildlife Trust, said she'd seen evidence of a hedgehog in her garden – it would usually be hibernating at that time of year.