Sandstorm sweeps northwest China

PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

A severe sandstorm sweeps across parts of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in northwest China.

State broadcaster CCTV said winds up to 80 kilometres an hour brought with them a cloud of sand, bringing visibility down to just 100 metres.

Local passenger services were halted and traffic restrictions imposed on main roads.

Schools were also forced to close.

Sandstorms are a regular Spring feature in northern China, made worse by desertification as temperatures rise and water sources dwindle.

The government has spent millions of dollars trying to stop the desert expansion, by planting trees and protecting plant cover in marginal areas.

Paul Chapman, Reuters