People across England have told Sky News about their tales of woe after becoming stranded by the snow, with those at airports worst hit.
Janice Beukes
We have been on board a Ryanair flight at Stansted since 6.30am. We are still stuck on the ground. We have been told we just have to wait for de-icer and we can fly. De-icing now finished and they just announced flight cancelled and all getting off. It looks like war is breaking out on the plane now.
Sharmeen Choudhury
My mum got on a plane to Bangladesh from Heathrow, via Manchester, which all passengers boarded at 5.30pm. The passengers had been asked to be patient. The plane didn't leave for Manchester until 4.30am. At 9.40am in Manchester passengers still weren't given any food, although it had almost been 11 hours since their last meal. I think that that the airline kept everyone in the plane to avoid hotel costs.
David Mulligan
At Stansted, many Ryanair staff didn't report for work so flights were cancelled. There are currently massive tailbacks at the check in desks with very irate passengers who are now expected to buy new flights.
Allan Newby
Late on Saturday night the A406 was at a complete standstill. My son, his friend and I went out with shovels, and blankets to try and help. This a major road, with no grit. Despite the constant reminders all week of the poor weather, the scene upon us was panic. We headed to help clear snow from under cars and prioritised with children, mums, single, unaccompanied drivers, and older vehicle drivers. To our amazement grit trucks were trailing through the snow, without their ploughs down wishing us the best because it was too late to do anything about it in their eyes.
Aman
Passengers boarded a flight to Delhi at 9.30pm on Saturday. The plane never left the gate and they were kept on board for seven hours. The original flight time was only 8.5 hours to Delhi.
James Styles
Heathrow have you not learnt your lesson? One year on, I have been sitting for six hours on the runway waiting for a de-icing truck! One turns up then one breaks down, and it's not even heavy snow.
Andrew Brown
At 6pm on Saturday, snow began to fall over London. At 8pm we were still told to board our plane at Heathrow T4. At 10pm, they served drinks, and we knew exactly where we were going - nowhere. We were told it was just a delay. At 10.30pm, they de-iced the plane for the last time, another plane next to us returned from the runway with a lot of snow on the wings. At 11pm they served dinner. Still on the ground. You don't serve dinner if you're going to take off in 5 minutes. It seems the new snow policy is to keep people on the planes, tired, uncomfortable and trapped. Letting us off would evidently be too expensive and too much trouble for them. Weren't BAA meant to have spent millions on preparing for the snow this year after the inquiry which was launched last year following the same madness?
Susan Currie
Total fiasco at Stansted Airport after Ryanair keep passengers held on a plane for six hours. Continually promising imminent departure, after the plane had been de-iced. After this passengers were informed their flight was cancelled. People have been waiting in massive queues but no senior managers are available to deal with their concerns. Some passengers are totally stranded, one young Polish girl was in floods of tears.
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