Italy's northern regions of Liguria, Piedmont, Lombardia and parts of Tuscany were hit by a severe weather front today, with many roads closed until they were cleared.

Lorries were ordered to park on the side of the motorway from Turin to Savona until snowploughs had finished clearing the roads.

Some drivers were seen near the town of Cuneo digging out the wheels of their trucks after the heavy snowfall.

112km winds battered Trieste in the northwest and many train services in the north were reduced.

Heavy rains are expected to batter the southern region in the next days as the weather front moves down the country.