Americans dipped into the water, went to the cinema and took tube trains just to have air conditioning relief from unrelenting heat that has killed at least 30 people across half the country.

A freak October storm knocked out power to more than 3.1 million homes and businesses across north-east America, with close to 2ft of snow falling in some areas.

An unusually early and powerful snowstorm struck the US East Coast, weighing down or toppling leafy trees and utility lines to knock out power to 2.3 million customers.