Hurricane death tolls rises as Irene heads for New York

At least eight people have been killed in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida, as Irene sweeps north.

The 500-mile (800km) -wide storm, with winds of around 80mph (129km/h), is moving slowly northwards. New York and other large cities are in its predicted path.

More than two million people have been ordered to leave their homes after warnings of storm surges and flooding.

Steve Kingstone reports.