Lyon - Heavy snowfalls and icy winds yesterday played havoc with road, rail and air travel in eastern and southern France and left thousands of homes without electricity.
In the Rhone-Alpes region around Lyon, police reported traffic jams several miles long while trains between Lyon and Paris were delayed between one and three hours after snow damaged electric power lines.
Ten incoming and outgoing flights had to be cancelled at Lyon-Satolas airport while a further three, including flights from Paris and Munich, were transferred. Two planes from Marseille and Nice were ordered to return.