10 February 2013: Thousands of people across large swathes of the north-eastern United States and eastern Canada are clearing up after an intense snowstorm.

Several people died, among them an 11-year-old boy, and some 700,000 homes and businesses were left without power.

In many areas, more than three feet (90cm) of snow fell in a matter of hours, downing power lines, grounding planes and paralysing transport.

The states of Massachusetts and Connecticut lifted vehicle travel bans.

In New York’s Suffolk County, police said they had rescued hundreds of motorists stuck overnight on the Long Island Expressway.

However, as the snow storm moved gradually eastwards, coastal blizzard and flood warnings remained in effect.

The mayor of the Connecticut city of Stratford, John Harkins, said the snowfall was unprecedented in his lifetime.

“Even the ploughs are getting stuck,” Mr Harkins told local WITH television.

More than 5,000 flights were cancelled on Saturday, though Boston’s Logan International Airport, and the three airports serving New York City were gradually re-opening.

Flights were expected to be back on close to normal schedules on Sunday, AP reported.

In New York’s central borough of Manhattan, normally bustling streets were quiet on Saturday – apart from snow blowers.

Resident Bill Tavonallo, 39, told AP: “It’s nice to have a reason to slow down.”

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city had “dodged a bullet” after a little more than 279mm (11 inches) fell in the city.

Several people died in the snowstorm – some while trying to tackle the snow, others in car accidents. There were reported to be three deaths in Canada alone.

In Connecticut, an 80-year-old woman was reported to have been killed by a hit-and-run driver while clearing her driveway, and a 40-year-old man collapsed while clearing snow.

In Boston, officials said an 11-year-old boy had died from carbon monoxide poisoning as he sat in a car with the engine running for warmth

Canadians on the Atlantic Coast are also bracing for blizzards after heavy snow fell on Ontario.

New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are under blizzard or storm watches.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21399808