Warm weather has melted Scotland's hopes of an early start to the ski season.

None of the country's six ski centres have officially opened for the season, despite some resorts welcoming snowsports fans as early as November in recent years.

Snowsports marketing body Ski-Scotland said relatively warm weather is to blame for the lack of snow on the slopes.

Ski-Scotland chair, Heather Negus, said: "Everyone loves a white Christmas, not least Scotland's skiers and snowboarders. Whilst they may have become accustomed to skiing in Scotland in their Christmas holidays, those with longer memories will also recall that it has not always been like this.

"More often than not the main Scottish snowsports season does not start until into January, and sometimes even later. But we do know that winter does arrive every year and that there is still plenty of time for Scottish skiers and boarders to get all the sliding they might hope for."

In 2013, heavy snowfalls led to Cairngorm Mountain Resort opening in November for snowsports.

Meanwhile, Nevis Range in Fort William has kicked off its snowsports season in December more than two thirds of the time since opening 27 years ago, with only eight seasons starting in January or February.

Glencoe Mountain ski centre has opened before Christmas in five out of the last seven seasons - bucking the trend of the previous six decades when the resort was open before Christmas just six times.

The milder weather conditions are also hitting snowsports elsewhere in Europe, with fake snow being created for the Ski Jump World Cup competitions in Innsbruck, Austria in the last few days.