14 dead as blizzard leaves 345,000 without power

Fourteen people died and about 345,000 homes and business were left without power as the US north- east and Canada were hit by a blizzard that dumped up to 3ft of snow on the most densely populated part of the region.

Some motorists had to be rescued after spending hours stuck in heavy snow.

Utilities in some hard-hit New England states predicted that the storm could leave some customers in the dark until today at least.