SNOW closed Southend Airport for more than two hours, causing one flight to be diverted to Luton.

Delays of up to two and a half hours are expected throughout the day as a result of the disruption, which meant the 8am flight to Bern diverted to Luton as it was arriving to pick up passengers from Southend, as it was not safe to land.

Passengers were bussed to the airport by Southend, however, and the flight was able to take off from Luton on time.

Overnight snowfall left 20mm of the white stuff on the airport runway, with two new snow ploughs and sweepers rushing to clear it so flights could recommence, though this meant the runway was closed between 6.30am and 9am.

About ten flights have been delayed, with the worst being the 6.35pm flight to Groningen in the Netherlands, which is expected at 8.55pm.

Other delays include 10.25am flight to Barcelona, expected 11.45am, the 12.55pm to Venice Marco Polo at 1.25pm, the 11.10am to Rennes at 1.35pm, the 3.30pm to Amsterdam at 4.45pm, the 2.55pm to Munster at 5.15pm, the 6.05pm to Geneva at 6.25pm and the 6.25pm to Geneva at 7.35pm.

Arrivals are also experiencing delays of more than two hours.

The 9.55am from Amsterdam is expected to arrive at 11.55am, the 10.45am from Caen at 1.10pm, the 12.20pm from Alicante at 3.25pm, the 2.35pm from Malaga at 4.20pm, the 3.25pm from Barcelona at 4.40pm, the 2.25pm from Rennes at 4.50pm, the 5.35pm from Venice Marco Polo at 6pm, the 6pm from Amsterdam at 7.10pm, the 6.10pm from Munster at 8.30pm, the 8.55pm from Amsterdam at 10pm and the 9.55pm from Geneva at 10.10pm.