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15:45 GMT, Sunday, 14 December 2008

In pictures: US ice storms

Ice weighs down power and phone lines in Hillsborough, New Hamshire

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Hundreds of thousands of people were left without electricity after an ice storm swept through north-eastern parts of the US early on Friday, coating trees and wires with ice.

John Piddock (l) and Jon Meredith look at a tree that fell down in Kinderhook, New York

John Piddock (l) and Jon Meredith look at a tree that fell down in Kinderhook, New York

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Power supplies to homes and businesses from Pennsylvania to Maine were affected by the storm, which brought down many trees.

View of icy landscape in Townsend, Massechusetts, on the New Hampshire border

View of icy landscape in Townsend, Massechusetts, on the New Hampshire border

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Temperatures have remained low in many places, forcing people without power or heating into shelters as the outage continues (Photo: Erik Moon)

People fill containers with petrol for home generators in Londonderry, New Hampshire

People fill containers with petrol for home generators in Londonderry, New Hampshire

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Those fortunate enough to have private generators stocked up on fuel, having been warned power may not be restored for days.

Car and driver are stopped in Derry, New Hampshire, on a road littered with fallen trees and wires

Car and driver are stopped in Derry, New Hampshire, on a road littered with fallen trees and wires

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In some places, roads became impassable because of fallen trees - making the task of assessing damage to the power grid harder.

Highway teams gather with chain saws as they work to clear roads

Highway teams gather with chain saws as they work to clear roads

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Teams were sent out to clear roads, working in freezing temperatures.

Work to clear ice-covered branches of trees from a closed road in Derry, New Hampshire

Work to clear ice-covered branches of trees from a closed road in Derry, New Hampshire

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Four states in the north-east have declared a full or partial state of emergency while they grapple with the aftermath of the storm.

Tree branches encased in ice

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Because damage to the grid is so widespread, teams from much further afield have been sent to the north-east to help out.

Downed power line

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Officials said there may well be further outages as power lines could snap when trees and branches shed ice and revert to their usual position (Photo: Erik Moon)

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