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Cold weather causes travel chaos | Cold weather causes travel chaos |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Thousands of people face further disruption to their Christmas travel plans as cold weather continues to grip much of the country. | Thousands of people face further disruption to their Christmas travel plans as cold weather continues to grip much of the country. |
BA cancelled all short-haul flights out of Heathrow while Eurostar passengers in London queued around the block. | BA cancelled all short-haul flights out of Heathrow while Eurostar passengers in London queued around the block. |
Gatwick Airport is shut and will not reopen until 0600 GMT on Tuesday. | |
BAA has apologised for spoiling so many people's Christmases and the Met Office has warned of more snow and ice in parts of the UK overnight. | |
Heathrow airport officials said no more than a third of all flights would operate until 0600 GMT on Wednesday and warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations, possibly until Christmas Day. | Heathrow airport officials said no more than a third of all flights would operate until 0600 GMT on Wednesday and warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations, possibly until Christmas Day. |
Overcrowding was so bad in some areas that passengers with flights scheduled to depart from terminals 1 or 3 on Monday were told not to travel to the airport. | Overcrowding was so bad in some areas that passengers with flights scheduled to depart from terminals 1 or 3 on Monday were told not to travel to the airport. |
BAA said the south runway would remain closed on Tuesday and advised people not to travel to the airport unless their airline had confirmed the booking. | BAA said the south runway would remain closed on Tuesday and advised people not to travel to the airport unless their airline had confirmed the booking. |
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said aviation was a "safety-first business". | |
And in a statement to MPs, Mr Hammond said rules on night flights would be relaxed for the next four days to help deal with the backlog. | |
This would mean allowing incoming flights to arrive through the night, while outbound planes could take off until 0100 GMT, he said. | This would mean allowing incoming flights to arrive through the night, while outbound planes could take off until 0100 GMT, he said. |
In other delays: | In other delays: |
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There was also disruption to road and rail travel on Monday: | There was also disruption to road and rail travel on Monday: |
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People at St Pancras station queued for up to eight hours for Eurostar services to the continent, which was also suffering from severe weather. The station was so busy that many had to wait outside in the bitter cold, lined up around the terminal building. | People at St Pancras station queued for up to eight hours for Eurostar services to the continent, which was also suffering from severe weather. The station was so busy that many had to wait outside in the bitter cold, lined up around the terminal building. |
St John Ambulance was asked to send eight crew members to the station as a precaution. | St John Ambulance was asked to send eight crew members to the station as a precaution. |
Ann Cable, commissioner of St John Ambulance in London, said: "Many have been standing out in the cold for several hours and it's understandable that Eurostar want to make sure they're properly looked after." | Ann Cable, commissioner of St John Ambulance in London, said: "Many have been standing out in the cold for several hours and it's understandable that Eurostar want to make sure they're properly looked after." |
Eurostar asked all passengers, even those with bookings, to stay away from St Pancras on Monday, as they try to clear the huge backlog. | Eurostar asked all passengers, even those with bookings, to stay away from St Pancras on Monday, as they try to clear the huge backlog. |
By nightfall, most passengers were under the station roof. | By nightfall, most passengers were under the station roof. |
One worker at St Pancras estimated there were 3,500 people - most of them families - queuing outside the station in the mid-afternoon. | One worker at St Pancras estimated there were 3,500 people - most of them families - queuing outside the station in the mid-afternoon. |
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Map Key
FogLight HeavyFrostLight HeavyPressure FrontsCold Warm OccludedRainLight Heavy ExtremeSnowLight Heavy | Map Key
FogLight HeavyFrostLight HeavyPressure FrontsCold Warm OccludedRainLight Heavy ExtremeSnowLight Heavy |
Temperature tab only | Temperature tab only |
Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather | Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather |
A Salvation Army tea truck was serving hot drinks, and spirits were surprisingly relaxed despite Eurostar staff "keeping out of public view," he told the BBC. | A Salvation Army tea truck was serving hot drinks, and spirits were surprisingly relaxed despite Eurostar staff "keeping out of public view," he told the BBC. |
But BBC producer Nicki Stiastny, who queued for eight-and-a-half hours on her way to France, said police angered many when they stopped letting people join the end of the queue. | But BBC producer Nicki Stiastny, who queued for eight-and-a-half hours on her way to France, said police angered many when they stopped letting people join the end of the queue. |
She said people were given "very limited information" and what had been passed on was "by word of mouth", leaving passengers "tired and frustrated". | She said people were given "very limited information" and what had been passed on was "by word of mouth", leaving passengers "tired and frustrated". |
BBC weather forecaster John Hammond said southern England bore the brunt of the snow on Monday, with 20cm falling in parts of Devon and Cornwall. | BBC weather forecaster John Hammond said southern England bore the brunt of the snow on Monday, with 20cm falling in parts of Devon and Cornwall. |
Through the evening, snow in southern parts of the UK will ease, say forecasters, although the far south-east might see some heavy snow for a time. More snow showers are expected along the northern coast. | Through the evening, snow in southern parts of the UK will ease, say forecasters, although the far south-east might see some heavy snow for a time. More snow showers are expected along the northern coast. |
Overnight, it will remain bitterly cold and Tuesday will start off very icy with temperatures well below freezing, say forecasters. | Overnight, it will remain bitterly cold and Tuesday will start off very icy with temperatures well below freezing, say forecasters. |
Parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to see the coldest temperatures overnight, dropping to -17C in Omagh. | Parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to see the coldest temperatures overnight, dropping to -17C in Omagh. |
Sub-zero temperatures will persist across almost the whole country on Tuesday. | Sub-zero temperatures will persist across almost the whole country on Tuesday. |
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for France, warning of disruption to road, rail and air travel in the country. | The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for France, warning of disruption to road, rail and air travel in the country. |
Most schools in England have already closed for the Christmas break but 472 schools shut early on Monday in Northern Ireland, 170 in Wales and at least 50 in Scotland. | Most schools in England have already closed for the Christmas break but 472 schools shut early on Monday in Northern Ireland, 170 in Wales and at least 50 in Scotland. |
The bad weather also led to a sharp drop in weekend shoppers, with retail research group Synovate saying UK footfall was down nearly 25%, compared with last year. | The bad weather also led to a sharp drop in weekend shoppers, with retail research group Synovate saying UK footfall was down nearly 25%, compared with last year. |
The Highways Agency said it was doing its best to keep major roads in England clear, but advised motorists to check traffic and weather conditions before deciding whether to head out. | The Highways Agency said it was doing its best to keep major roads in England clear, but advised motorists to check traffic and weather conditions before deciding whether to head out. |
Have you been affected by the heavy snow and ice or have your travel plans been disrupted? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by the heavy snow and ice or have your travel plans been disrupted? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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