Four die as winter storm batters US

A ferocious blizzard blanketed much of New England on Saturday as heavy snow and howling winds engulfed America's most populous region.

The storm was blamed for at least four deaths on the roads in New York state and Canada, and left more than 650,000 people without power.

Parts of Connecticut had more than 3ft of snow and major cities including Boston, Massachusetts, were affected by the storm. Airlines have cancelled about 5,300 flights, three states ordered private cars off roads and drivers stranded in their vehicles on Long Island's main highway by 2ft of snow were given refuge in a supermarket.

In the region's two biggest cities, the authorities were breathing a sigh of relief however. With snow still falling but the heaviest phase over, Boston had seen 21in, edging towards the city's record of 27in. In Central Park, Manhattan, the total was 11in. Milford in Connecticut had the highest recorded fall with 38in.

Winds up to 75mph created drifts several feet deep and brought down power lines. There was panic buying at shops and petrol stations in New York, where the memory is still fresh of the havoc caused by superstorm Sandy.

A nuclear plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, was shut after losing its electrical power supply, and some coastal areas were evacuated because of the danger of tidal surges caused by hurricane-force winds.

The storm was the product of two weather systems colliding. In New York however, the fashion elite insisted that the shows must go on - unless their flights were cancelled.

Fashion Week is in full swing and, as the snow swirled, models and guests swapped stilettos for snow-boots and flat shoes and bundled up in double coats.

Margie Ashcroft, a fashion writer, scoffed at the idea of the storm making a dent in New York Fashion Week, saying: "This is our livelihood, what we wait around for all year."

Snow also returned to parts of Britain yesterday in the Midlands and southern central England. The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for snow for much of England and southern Scotland. Up to 4in is expected to fall on high ground. The sleet and snow is expected to create hazardous icy conditions tomorrow.