Thousands without power as storm brings up to 25 inches of snow to the US

A fierce storm has lashed the north-east in the US, with widespread power outages amid the hurricane-force winds and heavy snow.

With spring tantalisingly in their grasp, many residents were left shaking their heads - and wielding shovels they had hoped would not be needed again - after the third major storm in two weeks buried some towns beneath two feet of snow on Tuesday.