UK weather causes chaos on train, planes and motorways as heatwave is followed by storms and flooding

FRUSTRATED passengers are experiencing lengthy delays on flights, ferries and Eurotunnel trains today as last night's thunderstorms caused fresh travel hell.

Thousands of holidaymakers complained of five hour queues to cross the Channel and chaotic scenes at Stansted Airport waiting for delayed flights on what is one of the busiest days of the year for travel.

Fuming passengers posted pictures from Stansted on social media showing holidaymakers squeezed into walkways, waiting in snaking queues to check-in and bedding down on the floor of the airport.

A Stansted Airport spokesman said the queues were caused by passengers who stayed overnight in the airport trying to re-book cancelled flights with airlines.

Laurel Ives, a writer, said: "Total chaos at Stansted, flights cancelled and delayed, huge crowds, our flight delayed 'until further notice'".

Andy Duffield said: "Horrendous evening at Stansted. @ThomasCookUK woeful. Slept in the car airport parking with family because hotel accommodation wasn’t forthcoming. Thanks for the £10 voucher - insulting."

Passenger Niklas Nygaard tweeted that "children were sleeping on their bags on the floor" as they waited for their flights and claimed some hadn't slept for more than 24 hours.

Giulia Pizzagalli wrote: “My flight to Milan was supposed to leave at 4pm. I’m still waiting at Stansted Airport and no one gives us any information. A 15 minute thunderstorm shut down an entire airport. This is a joke.”

Aaron Barriscale said: “Because of the insane backlog of people at bag drop we missed our flight and in our whole time queuing up, not one member of staff was anywhere to be seen. Disgraceful!”

Louise Waller tweeted: "Utter chaos @STN_Airport. Queues to get into airport terminal, planes sent to wrong stands.

"Have just been de-boarded when they realised it wasn't our plane. Even staff calling it the worst they've ever seen and Stansted doesn't deserve to be in operation. Horrific."

Many complained of delays as long as nine hours as storms brought an abrupt end to the heatwave in the UK and Europe.

Tom Happold, director of Happen, told Sky News: "I've missed my flight with my family. I've got two kids with me and my wife.

"It's complete chaos here. There's lots of arguments, babies crying, lots of pushing and shoving.

"There's a lack of staff both from the airport and the airlines. Nobody knows where they're going, where they're queuing, people are getting to the front of the queues and then finding the flight is shut, which is what happened to us.

"We got to the front of the queue and found out the travel company we are with hadn't been in touch with our airline, but we can't call them because they don't open until 9am."

A spokesman for Stansted Airport said: "Passengers at Stansted airport are facing delays and cancellations following yesterday's weather.

"Restrictions put in place by air traffic controller NATS are still having a knock-on effect this morning on arrivals and departures.

"Passengers advised to check with their airline before they travel."

In a statement Ryanair said the "knock on effect of thunderstorms last night and ATC shortages has caused further disruptions today including delays and cancellations.

It went on to say "affected customers have been notified by email and SMS text message and advised of their options of a refund or free move to the next available flight. Ryanair sincerely apologise for these weather and ATC disruptions which are entirely beyond our control."

Travellers departing from Luton, Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh have also all been affected.

Luton Airport tweeted: "Due to thunderstorm activity across Europe this morning, air traffic control restrictions are in place and some flights may be subject to delay or cancellation."

Pictures also showed lines of passengers at Gatwick Aiport as they also faced disruption.

Gatwick tweeted: “Adverse weather across Europe is affecting flights in and outbound from Gatwick Airport, this may result in delays and cancellations. Please contact your airline for specific flight information before you travel to the airport.”

Meanwhile passengers travelling to France on the cross-Channel rail operator Eurotunnel are experiencing delays up to five hours at its Folkestone terminal.

It told travellers not to make journeys unless they were absolutely necessary.

Huge queues snaked to the Folkestone terminal from the M20 in Kent on the third successive day of Eurotunnel travel hell.

Sarah Dodwell tweeted: "Queueing on the M20 for #Eurotunnel - how to ruin a one week big family holiday. Huge delays to check-in and departure, followed by a six-hour drive to come, with young children = 9 very tired people, before we have to do it all again coming back @LeShuttle."

Many passengers voiced their confusion after boarding Le Shuttle only to find empty, air-conditioned carriages.

Gemma King tweeted: “Four hours late and only just boarding and they’ve left the carriage in front and behind us empty. Why? Appalling communication and organisation.”

In a bid to try and ease the delays, Eurotunnel advised passengers to arrive between 45 minutes and two hours before their check-in time.

A Eurotunnel spokesman said: "Waiting time due to restricted shuttle capacity caused by the extreme and prolonged high temperatures.

"Ticket sales for travel today are currently unavailable.

"The prolonged and unprecedented temperatures in the South East of England are affecting the air conditioning on board our shuttles. Due to the high level of traffic booked, we are currently unable to check-in any customers arriving more than two hours before their booked crossing time.

"We strongly recommend that you stock up with water and take a comfort break prior to arriving at our Folkestone Terminal."

Families heading for summer holidays on the continent by ferry were also told to expect long queues on the roads into the port of Dover and a minimum two-hour wait to get through border checks.

P&O ferries advised passengers to bring plenty of drinks, snacks and entertainment for their wait.

The Met Office has issued a series of yellow warnings for rain, thunderstorms and wind on Saturday and Sunday, and said delays to public transport, difficult driving conditions on flooded roads were expected.