Travellers stranded as UK airport hit by delays and diverted flights caused by Storm Otto

TRAVELLERS were stranded after a string of flight delays and cancellations at Bristol Airport.

Last night, passengers were told they wouldn't be taking off only a few hours before they were due to depart.

Airline staff blamed high winds during Storm Otto.

The disruption appears to be having a knock-on effect today, with crowds of holidaymakers pictured at the terminal and complaints of hold-ups on social media.

Among those impacted are Bristol City supporters travelling to see their club play Sunderland this afternoon.

Football fan Ellie Jones, who was leaving her house when she got a message saying her easyJet flight had been cancelled due to bad weather, told : "It's really disappointing.

"It doesn't seem good enough to me.

"Now we've got to scramble about to try and make new plans."

She said she was rushing to buy a £110 ticket for a five-hour train journey - more than double the cost of her 60-minute £50 flight.

Welsh couple Becca Tan, 33, and Jordan Gregory, 30, also faced a "nightmare" situation when their plane from Amsterdam was diverted to Gatwick yesterday morning.

They had hoped to be home with their kids in the Rhondda Valley by the afternoon, but instead found themselves in London.

The pilot announced he thought the conditions would clear and they would make their way to Bristol, but after 90 minutes in the air they landed at Gatwick for a second time.

Passengers were then told to make their own way home.

Jordan told : "They basically left us to fend for ourselves."

And Hayley James, who was heading to Budapest, claims her flight was delayed by more than six hours,

She said on Twitter: "No customer service whatsoever.

"Been here since 2pm. Stood for four hours, no seats."

'RAPIDLY CHANGING SITUATION'

Bristol Airport apologised for the last-minute changes and advised anyone due to travel to contact their airline.

A spokesperson said: "Bristol Airport, like other airports across the UK, has experienced some disruption caused due to Storm Otto on February 17.

"A limited number of flights have experienced flight delays and diversions.

"However, the majority of flights remain operating as normal.

"The disruption may cause reactionary delays to some flights later this evening.

"It is a rapidly changing situation and customers are advised to keep updated with the latest flight information by checking the airline website."

Storm Otto brought gusts of of 80mph across northern Scotland on Friday.

Other areas were battered with high winds and heavy rain, but no weather warning was in force for the West Country.