Sandy: Storm-hit New York declared major disaster area

At least 40 people have been killed, millions are without power and transport across the north-eastern US has been severely disrupted as storm Sandy heads north for Canada.

Sandy brought a record storm surge of almost 14ft (4.2m) to central Manhattan, well above the previous record of 10 feet (3m) during Hurricane Donna in 1960, the National Weather Service said.

Across the city, a power sub-station exploded, a hospital was evacuated and fire destroyed 50 homes.

Laura Trevelyan reports.