Flights into Stansted were delayed during the evening due to a combination of the bad weather and pressure on the airport from flights diverted to it from other windstruck runways.

About 30 flights were delayed at the airport and some of those had to be cancelled.

During the gale force winds, Stansted remained operational because the gales were not blowing across the runway, which would have made takeoffs and landings impossible.

But other airports including Birmingham and Heathrow diverted their planes to Stansted and ten planes had to remain at the airport overnight and will return to their original destinations today.

A Stansted Airport spokesman said: "Flights were delayed throughout the night and we still have diverted aircraft here."

Published Monday October 28, 2002

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