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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Flights cut as snow hits airport | Flights cut as snow hits airport |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of people were stranded overnight at Manchester Airport when flights were suspended due to heavy snowfall. | |
| Planes were grounded and incoming flights prevented from landing due to ice and snow on Sunday afternoon. | Planes were grounded and incoming flights prevented from landing due to ice and snow on Sunday afternoon. |
| Staff have been working to clear the backlog and about 12 flights an hour are leaving the runways. | Staff have been working to clear the backlog and about 12 flights an hour are leaving the runways. |
| An airport spokeswoman said many passengers had to stay in the terminals because hotels were booked up. | An airport spokeswoman said many passengers had to stay in the terminals because hotels were booked up. |
| "We have employed extra staff this morning to make sure we can get flights up and running as quickly as possible. | "We have employed extra staff this morning to make sure we can get flights up and running as quickly as possible. |
| "The snow has caused some problems but the main issue has been with the ice. It is a huge site so it is taking time to clear and be made safe," she added. | "The snow has caused some problems but the main issue has been with the ice. It is a huge site so it is taking time to clear and be made safe," she added. |
| Many flights were left circling and hovering above the runways until it was safe to land and some were diverted to airports nearby. | Many flights were left circling and hovering above the runways until it was safe to land and some were diverted to airports nearby. |
| No-one told us anything on the desk, we had to find out by someone's else phone as we stood waiting David Kind, a passenger waiting to fly to Dubai | |
| Blankets and food have been handed out to passengers and retailers stayed open throughout the night, the airport spokeswoman said. | Blankets and food have been handed out to passengers and retailers stayed open throughout the night, the airport spokeswoman said. |
| Peter Davies, 60, and wife, Lorraine, 58, from Stockton-on-Tees, have been waiting to secure a standby ticket after the cancellation of their flight to New Jersey on Sunday. | |
| The couple had Christmas presents for their two-year-old twin grandchildren who live in the United States. | |
| Mr Davies said: "We are very upset. It is a pretty trying time and it's disappointing but there's not much you can do about it. | |
| 'A disgrace' | |
| "We visit a couple of times a year but obviously it's a special time around now and we've got the presents ready. | |
| "We sorted ourselves out in a hotel last night but we're going home if we can't get another flight sorted today. I can't afford to lose the time off work so we'll go in the new year." | |
| Anne Park, 81, of Lancaster, said her bmibaby flight to Amsterdam was cancelled on Sunday and there were still no scheduled flights. | |
| "I'm tired out. I feel abandoned because there has been no information," she said. "It's a disgrace." | |
| Some passengers faced delays of up to seven hours | |
| David Kind, 61, of Keighley, was in the Air France check-in queue at at 0700 GMT when a passenger in front of him received a text message saying their flight to Dubai was cancelled. | |
| He said: "No-one told us anything on the desk, we had to find out by someone's else phone as we stood waiting." | |
| Airport officials have warned people to check with their operators in advance. | |
| Many roads around Greater Manchester have also been affected by the treacherous weather. | Many roads around Greater Manchester have also been affected by the treacherous weather. |
| The outside lane on the M60 is covered in snow and many of the minor roads are extremely icy. | The outside lane on the M60 is covered in snow and many of the minor roads are extremely icy. |
| The Snake Pass through the Peak district and the A58 Halifax Road through Littleborough are still closed due to the snow. | The Snake Pass through the Peak district and the A58 Halifax Road through Littleborough are still closed due to the snow. |
| Have you been affected by the winter weather? Send us your stories, pictures and video. | Have you been affected by the winter weather? Send us your stories, pictures and video. |
| Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
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