Hurricane Sandy bears down on US

Hurricane Sandy has swept north over the Bahamas towards the US, having reportedly killed some 20 people as it tore through Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica.

Schools, offices, airports and bridges had closed across the Bahamas as residents stocked up on supplies.

Forecasters warn the storm could pose a major threat to the US East Coast.

Early on Friday, Sandy had dropped to a category one hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90mph (150km/h), said the US National Hurricane Center.

James Kelly reports.