Hurricane Sandy closes in on US East Coast

Hurricane Sandy is bearing down on the US East Coast, threatening serious flooding and power cuts that could affect 50 million people.

Hundreds of thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate New York City and New Jersey.

Public transport has been suspended in cities up the eastern seaboard and thousands of flights grounded.

Forecasters fear Sandy will become a super-storm when it collides with cold weather fronts from the west and north.

Laura Trevelyan reports.