A major snow storm has hit the western US state of Colorado, paralysing its biggest cities and causing the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights at Denver International Airport.

Thousands of travellers stranded at Denver airport and in the city's hotels face a long wait for flights, with officials predicting runways will stay closed until Friday.

Up to two feet (0.6m) of snow had fallen in Denver by early Thursday, with strong winds creating deep drifts.

Denver's streets remained largely deserted, with stretches of highway around the city made impassable by the snow.

For others, the snowy conditions gave an opportunity to dust off sledges and head for the empty roads.

The National Weather Service has posted a blizzard warning for most of Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas.

Many Denver residents have taken to the streets to try to clear the mounting snow, which is hampering their daily life.

Some locals - like Thom Hartman pictured above - were better prepared than others.

The last Christmas blizzard to hit Colorado was in 1982, when about two feet of snow blanketed Denver.