Large parts of Spain brought to a standstill by deadly blizzard

People walk along El Paseo de la Castellana avenue during a heavy snowfall in Madrid (AP)

A persistent blizzard has blanketed large parts of Spain with 50-year record levels of snow, killing at least four people and leaving thousands more trapped in cars, train stations and airports.

The bodies of a man and woman were recovered by the Andalucía region emergency service after their car was washed away by a flooded river near the town of Fuengirola.