Photos: New York begins clear-up after mammoth snowfall

                                     

A travel ban in New York City has ended as the eastern US begins digging out from the weekend's massive snowstorm.

New York, the most populated city in the US, saw its second-highest snowfall since records began in 1869, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

As five states saw snowfall of three feet (91cm) or more, the hazards of shovelling snow were brought home by at least six deaths.

A further 12 people have died in other snow-related incidents since Friday.

The storm, dubbed Snowmageddon and Snowzilla, is weakening and heading for the Atlantic Ocean.

It has affected some 85 million people, cutting power at one point to 300,000 people. The heaviest fall was recorded in Glengary, West Virginia, which had 42ins (107 cm).

In Washington DC, the metro remains closed and air travel in the region faces further disruption.

Some 7,000 flights were cancelled this weekend and disruption is to continue into the working week, with at least 615 cancelled for Monday.