Dutch gripped by skating fever

While much of Europe has been forced indoors by a fierce cold snap, the Dutch have been elevated to a state of euphoria as skating fever grips the nation.

Frozen canals, rivers and lakes have transformed the Netherlands into one enormous ice-rink.

Sports shops have sold out of skates, bike suppliers are swapping their cycles for sledges and all over the country people are having their blades sharpened ready to take advantage of the ice generated by exceptionally cold winter.