Birmingham Airport was open for most of Sunday until the evening when it was forced to close for two hours and flights were temporarily diverted.

BBC: Gritters out as snowfall returns in West Midlands

The experienced pilot, from near Reading in Berkshire, who had amassed 12, 000 flying hours, had asked to be diverted to a nearby heliport because of bad weather.

BBC: Capt Pete Barnes

The line had to be closed for eight hours and 100 trains had to be diverted.

ECONOMIST: Why the trains are late

For more than three hours, all of its calls were diverted to ambulance staff in Scotland, who then contacted NIAS workers via their mobile phones.

BBC: Communications problem at NI ambulance service resolved