Thousands waiting to return home after hurricane floods

Thousands of people remain cut off by severe flooding in towns across Vermont, New Jersey and upstate New York as the death toll from Hurricane Irene climbs towards 50.

Two days after the storm passed, families are still waiting for supplies of food with some areas totally inaccessible.

President Barack Obama has sent senior officials to survey some of the worst of the damage.

Millions of Americans remain without electricity, in states like Virginia and North Carolina which bore the brunt of the high winds.