Cold snap grips Europe

Snow, snow and more snow - everywhere you look.

A Siberian cold snap has descended across much of central and eastern Europe, causing chaos in many parts.

Here in Russia, over 50 regions are experiencing abnormally low temperatures. In Vladivostok, a temperature of minus 21 degrees Celsius has frozen the bay.

Heavy snowfall has also blocked traffic on one of the main highways in the Volgograd region.

In Poland, where the temperature sank below minus 20 degrees Celsius, nine people have died of hypothermia.

Authorities say most of the dead were homeless or elderly, bringing the death toll since the beginning of the week to 29.

Plunging temperatures and heavy snowfall have also swept through large parts of Italy, disrupting air and land traffic.

Central and northern parts of the country, like here in Milan, have been particularly badly hit.

The snow has even reached the normally sun-kissed Mediterranean coastline of southern France.

Palm trees in Marseilles are covered in snow as local children seize the opportunity for a rare snowball fight.

Authorities have declared a severe weather warning in 25 regions of France

Europe's cold spell is expected to persist until Sunday.

Sunita Rappai, Reuters