IRELAND escaped lightly from great blasts of snow, ice and freezing temperatures that wrought havoc across Britain and much of Europe and the US yesterday.

In Times Square, the crossroads of the world, all the neon and bright lights were impossibly dark.

Amy Westfeldt, New York

Police in the US have stepped up security at airports, subways and hotels after the country was put on heightened terrorist alert and law enforcement officials indicated New York was a possible target.