A driver brandished a knife at a bunch of kids who hit his van with snowballs

A large group of children gathered at Alexandra Palace yesterday to take advantage of the hills and slope - but many took the opportunity to attack moving and parked cars.

One man had enough and pulled out a Stanley knife.

Witnesses said the area had descended into chaos with drivers shouting at kids and more snowballs reining in, but after the blade incident it went quiet.

Police were called but could not find the unknown knife man and one schoolboy was arrested.

Emergency calls rise

More than 1,000 calls were made every hour yesterday, similar to New Years Eve, for fights, car crashes, and falls.

Cmdr Simon O'Brien said: "There has been a considerable amount of disorder and snowball fights reported."