This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-25503513

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Gatwick Airport power problems leave thousands stranded Gatwick Airport power problems leave thousands stranded
(about 1 hour later)
Several thousand passengers have been stranded at Gatwick Airport following stormy weather.Several thousand passengers have been stranded at Gatwick Airport following stormy weather.
The airport has suffered "sporadic power problems" at its North Terminal, affecting its ability to check people in manually. The airport has suffered power problems at its north terminal, affecting its ability to check people in manually.
Gatwick said all departures would now be leaving from the South Terminal, apart from British Airways. Arrivals are still coming in to both terminals. Gatwick said all departures were leaving from the south terminal, apart from British Airways. Arrivals were still coming in to both terminals.
A spokeswoman said electricity sub-stations on the airfield had flooded. The airport said electricity sub-stations on the airfield had flooded with water from the River Mole.
She said: "The cause of this was flooding from the River Mole into substations on the airfield. BBC Newsbeat reporter Declan Harvey, who has spent 11 hours in the north terminal awaiting a flight to Belfast, said: "Police are manning the information desks. Staff have gone 'awol' as police do what they can to give out information.
"They are now drying out, which is good news. We are trying to get people out as quickly as we can." "It's all getting very tired, cranky and angry. There haven't been huge flashpoints but people are frustrated. They have been here 11 or 12 hours and are only now finding out their flights are cancelled."
She said Gatwick had 133 departing flights leaving from the North Terminal on Tuesday, and of those, 86 had departed and 26 had been cancelled. He said people had not been given information about their flights or where they should go to.
'Significant delays' "There are children crying and women crying. Earlier a list was read out of flights that had been cancelled and people were bursting into tears."
"There are not too many left to go now," she added. "But, disruption is still expected for the next few hours."
She said by 16:00 GMT the average delay per flight was about 90 minutes, adding: "Pressure is easing, but there are still pretty significant delays."
Easyjet said it had cancelled 38 flights and a number of others have been delayed.
No trains were running to or from the airport for most of the morning because of fallen trees on the line.
Southern said Gatwick Express services were suspended because of a landslip between East Croydon and the airport.
It said replacement buses were operating between London Victoria and Gatwick.
'Pretty poor show''Pretty poor show'
He added: "There is now a massive queue of people trying to leave the airport because trains are cancelled. No-one knows anything about how they are going to get home."
At 16:00 GMT, Gatwick had 133 flights due to leave the north terminal with an average delay of 90 minutes, and of those, 86 had departed and 26 had been cancelled.
In a further update at 18:20 GMT, the airport said 30 flights were due to arrive and 30 due to depart across both terminals.
No trains have run to or from the airport for most of the day because of fallen trees on the line and disruption across the network.
Southern said Gatwick Express services were suspended because of a landslip between East Croydon and the airport, with replacement buses were operating between London Victoria and Gatwick.
Southeastern was also running limited rail services.
An airport spokesman denied police were manning information desks instead of staff.
He said officers had worked alongside Gatwick staff all day and were there to calm people down in a difficult situation.
"We remain incredibly apologetic and are desperately trying to put things right but it will take the time it takes in terms of getting it right," he added.
The main point of contact for passengers was their airline and airlines would make choices on what flights to run and not necessarily the airport, he said.
Earlier, Gatwick said it had extra staff helping in the terminals.
Easyjet said it had cancelled 38 flights and a number of others have been delayed.
Travel journalist Simon Calder said he estimated about 10,000 people in total would not get to their destination and would end up spending Christmas in various parts of Europe as a result of the disruption.Travel journalist Simon Calder said he estimated about 10,000 people in total would not get to their destination and would end up spending Christmas in various parts of Europe as a result of the disruption.
Transport minister Baroness Kramer told Prime Minister David Cameron air passengers at Gatwick and those trying to get there, had shown common sense and good humour in miserable circumstances.Transport minister Baroness Kramer told Prime Minister David Cameron air passengers at Gatwick and those trying to get there, had shown common sense and good humour in miserable circumstances.
However, she added safety had to be the priority on Gatwick train services, which could not run unless lines were clear.However, she added safety had to be the priority on Gatwick train services, which could not run unless lines were clear.
The government would look afterwards to see if there were things that could have been handled better, she explained.The government would look afterwards to see if there were things that could have been handled better, she explained.
Passenger Rachel Rouse, who arrived at the airport hoping to fly to Tenerife for Christmas, said: "All the screens went down, which obviously wasn't their fault because of the electricity, but when the screens did go back up the only things that were on it was a message saying, 'Merry Christmas'."Passenger Rachel Rouse, who arrived at the airport hoping to fly to Tenerife for Christmas, said: "All the screens went down, which obviously wasn't their fault because of the electricity, but when the screens did go back up the only things that were on it was a message saying, 'Merry Christmas'."
Peter Lambert, another passenger who emailed the BBC, said: "As usual there is a complete lack of communication.Peter Lambert, another passenger who emailed the BBC, said: "As usual there is a complete lack of communication.
"The staff have to shout instructions, the PA only works for pre-recorded announcements of no use at all. They could do with investing in some loud hailers."The staff have to shout instructions, the PA only works for pre-recorded announcements of no use at all. They could do with investing in some loud hailers.
"Easyjet are doing their best by moving people flight by flight to the South Terminal. All in all a pretty poor show from Gatwick Ltd." "Easyjet are doing their best by moving people flight by flight to the south terminal. All in all a pretty poor show from Gatwick Ltd."
'Causing delays'
A number of flights were diverted from the airport to Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle on Monday evening.A number of flights were diverted from the airport to Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle on Monday evening.
A Gatwick spokesman said: "We are doing everything we can to get people away for Christmas and we understand passengers' frustrations. We have extra staff helping out in the terminals."
Southeastern trains said there were still limited services because of disruption caused by earlier fallen trees and Southern said other services across its network were severely disrupted after the storm.
A UK Power Networks spokeswoman said engineers were currently working to restore power supplies in the area.
More than 7,000 Sussex homes were left without power after trees and debris damaged overhead power lines. Nearly 5,800 were still without electricity on Tuesday evening.
Homes also lost water supplies. South East Water said customers in the Haywards Heath, Cuckfield, West Hoathly and Turners Hill areas were affected.
Bottled water was being handed out at the Dolphin Leisure Centre in Haywards Heath and at a car park in Cuckfield.
The Environment Agency issued dozens of flood warnings for the South East.
It said teams had put up flood barriers in Lewes.
Tom Barlow, who lives in Stedham, Midhurst, West Sussex, said he was wading "knee-deep in floodwater".
"It's the worst I've seen in 10 years. There's a weir that's completely flooded now. It's swept away the walkway bridge."