There are fears that the north-east US region of New England could face a fresh blast of winter weather this week, as the population shivers following its fourth winter storm in the space of a month.

At least nine people have died as a winter storm slammed into the north eastern United States bringing travel chaos as it dumped nearly two feet of snow in some areas.

Lights flickered back on in the north-east US and Canada today as the biggest power cut in American history stubbornly retreated.