Marseilles remains snowed in

SKIERS and snowboarders took to the snowbound streets and hillsides of Marseilles as the rest of the city ground to a halt.

Schools in the city are shut today and people are being advised to stay at home.

Marseilles Airport is shut and although it will review the situation at midday, a spokesman said it was unlikely to reopen today.

Yesterday’s snow caused transport chaos in the area as the city airport closed, trains, trams and buses stopped running and the motorway was shut.

Even the underground was running a reduced service and there were powercuts across the city.

On the motorway, firefighters cleared snow and handed out food.

Such a snowfall has not been seen in the Mediterranean city since 1987, said Météo France, which placed the area under an orange alert.

Scenes of skiing at Notre-Dame de la Garde can be viewed here.

Photo:Afp/Anne Christine Poujoulat