Record snowfall in Japan forces hundreds of drivers to sleep in their cars

Self-defence forces called out to provide food, blankets and fuel to motorists after sudden snowfall

More than 1,000 people in Japan were forced to spend the night in their cars on Thursday after record snowfall blanketed parts of the country.

The first few motorists traveling on an expressway connecting Tokyo with Niigata on the Japan Sea coast found their route blocked on Wednesday evening, according to media reports.