Over 100 flights have been cancelled at Heathrow Airport as strong winds of up to 75mph strike across the UK, causing disruption to Christmas travel plans.
The cancellations come during what is expected to be Heathrow’s busiest Christmas period ever.
Several ferries have also been cancelled as millions of travellers attempt to reach family and friends for the festivities.
Heathrow officials were keen to emphasise that the vast majority of flights are operating as normal.
Flights have been grounded due to strong winds
PA
A spokesperson said: “Due to strong winds and airspace restrictions, a small number of flights have been cancelled today.
“This will ensure the vast majority of passengers can still travel as planned.
“We know how important travel at this time of year is and have extra colleagues on hand in our terminals to support people on their journeys.
“We encourage passengers to check with their airline for the latest information about their flight.”
The Met Office has warnings for severe gales which are set to remain in place until 9pm today, affecting multiple regions across the UK.
The warnings cover Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and several areas of England, including the North East, North West, South West and West Midlands, as well as Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Hampshire.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said gusts could reach up to 75mph in extremely exposed coastal areas, with parts of the west expected to see 40mph or 50mph winds.
Fresh snowfall has also been reported in parts of Scotland this morning, with several centimetres accumulating over hills.
It was predicted to be the busiest Christmas ever for the airport
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P&O Ferries has cancelled all journeys between Larne and Cairnryan until at least 8pm on Sunday due to the severe weather.
The disruption has hit Scottish ferry services particularly hard, with CalMac reporting that 29 of its 30 routes were either cancelled or disrupted on Sunday.
Rail services have also been affected, with ScotRail implementing speed restrictions on routes between Glasgow and Oban/Mallaig, as well as the Inverness service to Kyle/Wick.
Coastal areas are expected to continue experiencing challenging conditions, with winds reaching 50 to 60mph.
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