THESE pictures show how our our namesake 3,000 miles away on the east coast of America is taking a battering from the weather.

For Worcestershire read Worcester County, Massachusetts - apparently home of the plastic pink flamingo - has been dealing with blizzard conditions, with over 2ft of snow.

Howling winds of over 70 mph have been battering the area and temperatures have been below -10.

While New York made the headlines when the forecast blizzard failed to materialise, causing controversy over the alert isued by the mayor, other parts of the east coast have been badly hit, with major power cuts and transport chaos.

Nearly 21 inches of snow coated Boston's Logan Airport by evening, while nearby Framingham had 2½ feet and Worcester 26 inches. One place, Lunenburg, reported 33 inches.

While we in Worcestershire are not expecting blizzards, forecasters have warned of an icy blast this weekend, with temperatures feeling like -5 because of the wind chill factory.

Some scattered light snow flurries are also forecast.