Hard weather hits Europe, but it also brings fun

LONDON (AP) – Severe weather in Europe, from floods in France to heavy snow in Germany, has caused disruption and damage – as well as magnificent backgrounds to see or play.

The flood waters devastated many vineyards and orchards in southwestern France, while the Seine River flooded its banks for the fifth day in a row in Paris.

In the UK, heavy snow is forecast for the next few days and will cause disruption in the south-east of England as extremely cold winds grab a large part of the nation. Some areas in the UK have accumulated on Sunday.

A snowstorm and strong winds blew north and west Germany, forcing trains to cancel journeys and leading to hundreds of vehicle accidents. Police said more than two dozen people were injured on icy roads.

But the storms also brought picturesque scenes, with people enjoying the day when the Sahara sand colored the snow near Altenberg, Germany. And a pony went on a show near Millhouse Green in the north-east of England, while a horse-drawn carriage drove through the German city during a gust.

A man used a surfboard to climb a snow-covered hill in the Wye National Nature Reserve near Ashford in southern England.

The weather will remain cold in the coming days on the continent. Temperatures dropped to -21 C (-5.8 F) on Sunday in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius.