Heavy snowfall and icy roads cause chaos for commuters across Germany on Tuesday morning.

On highways in eastern Germany, many travellers had to stop for hours in miles-long traffic jams.

(SOUNDBITE) (German) UNNAMED PERSON STUCK IN TRAFFIC JAM, SAYING:

"After five hours it is very cold, and there's no information available and nothing is moving. I am lost for words."

Police and rescue services were busy helping people to move broken-down or overturned vehicles off the snow-blanketed roads.

Air traffic at Frankfurt airport experienced disruptions as well.

Planes needed to be defrosted before departure and runways had to be cleared of snow.