Disaster crews with dogs went from one pile of debris to another in a search of bodies after powerful storms swept through Florida.

Governor Jeb Bush has called in the Florida National Guard to help fight wildfires that have scorched thousands of acres and blanketed highways with thick smoke, contributing to collisions that have killed four people.

Tropical Storm Ophelia strengthened into a hurricane today as it stalled 70 miles off the north-east Florida coast, churning up waves that caused beach erosion and drenched Kennedy Space Centre with rain.

A review of 10,644 uncounted ballots in Miami-Dade County showed Al Gore would not have gained enough votes to overtake George W Bush in Florida, a newspaper claims.