A blast of winter chill across France

A COLD winter blast from the north across much of France has shaken off any lingering summer memories and seen heavy snow, rain and winds.

Night time temperatures are expected to be below freezing across eastern France, and over the weekend 15cm of snow fell on the lower reaches of the Alps, and a ferry was pinned to the harbour wall in Marseille after strong winds buffeted the region.

Here in the Dordogne the light of the moon shimmered on the frosty fields early in the morning, but once the sun had risen its warm rays began to sparkle on the melting chill.

The last of the cranes headed south over the weekend, their melancholic cry echoing across the valley, and with the last of the chestnuts being gathered I'm sure I saw a flash of red as a robin dodged under the laurel bush.