Australians flock to see snow

SURPRISE snowfalls prompted people in Sydney, Australia, to flock to the mountains yesterday to catch a glimpse of a rare winter phenomenon.

Overnight snow dusted much of south-east Australia, including the Blue Mountains just west of Sydney and the hills south of the city.

The unexpected weather brought a warning from traffic officials - stay at home.

Snowfall is rare in the region and officials trying to deal with icy roads in the mountains advised curious sightseers to stay away.