Australian's first experience of snow 'like a movie'

An Australian woman whose friend captured her frolicking in the snow as she experienced it for the first time said it was "like a movie".

Frances Helena, 33, said she jumped for joy when she saw the covering that had fallen outside her friend's home in Bury, Greater Manchester, overnight.

The Queensland native said it also gave a chance to build her first snowman.

"I managed to make made a mini version... and tried to shape him, but I think I squashed him," she added.

Ms Helena said her first reaction to seeing it was "oh wow, look at this, is it snowing?"

A blanket of snow covered England on Tuesday as temperatures fell below freezing.

Ms Helena said her first reaction to seeing it was "oh wow, look at this, is it snowing?"

The fashion designer and photographer, who has been staying with friends as she travels the UK, said she was not used to the cold weather, having come from a "really tropical" area.

"I had to run and figure out what to wear, and I was just jumping around outside," she said.

She said she was delighted to be able to throw snowballs and give building a snowman a go, but soon faced a scenario many British snow-lovers have experienced.

"I managed to make made a mini version on top of the rubbish bin and tried to shape him, but I think I squashed him," she said.

Ms Helena said she was so new to snow that she was not sure what to wear to go out in it

Ms Helena soon got to grips with snow and enjoyed the simple pleasures of making footprints and snowmen

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [e-mail]