Snow hits European travellers

BERLIN, Germany -- Tens of thousands of motorists have been stranded as freezing weather conditions tightened their grip on Europe.

The start of the Christmas holidays turned into a nightmare for an estimated 60,000 Germans this weekend as snow caused massive traffic jams in the country.

Many motorists were forced to shelter in their cars in Bavaria when they were caught in a 150-kilometre (90-mile) long traffic jam for up to 14 hours.

Bavarian police said the traffic chaos was the worst they had seen.

Up to 1.2 metres (four feet) of snow fell in Bavaria on Friday night and Saturday.

The heavy snow also caused the cancellation of about 40 flights in and out of Zurich airport in Switzerland on Saturday.

Weather forecasters say more snow is expected in coming days.

Elsewhere, at least 232 people have frozen to death in Moscow since the beginning of winter, with the temperature expected to stay at record-low levels, the death toll is expected to rise.

Most victims are homeless people, many of them alcoholics, who have nowhere to hide from severe frosts as low as minus 15 degrees Centigrade (5 degree Fahrenheit)

Shelters are scarce in the Russian capital, and the only alternative are basements in apartment blocks -- most of them kept locked for security reasons.

Medicins Sans Frontieres is one of the few charities that try to provide first aid to cold victims at its small clinic in Moscow.

In Britain, bookmakers William Hill have further reduced the odds of a white Christmas putting Glasgow's chances of snow at 4/6, Manchester was second favourite at 6/6 and London was favourite at 3/1 with Cardiff on 5/1.

Heavy snow showers hit the east of England over the weekend, with falls spreading inland across the east coast stretching from Norfolk to Scotland.

The UK's PA WeatherCentre said the showers were moving inland as far as Leeds while most of northern Scotland was covered.