London, Dec 19: Europe shivered under the lash of a snowy pre-Christmas cold snap on Friday that closed airports, caused chaos on the roads and gave some school kids an early start to their holidays.
Two of London’s airports were closed overnight after heavy snow fell across south and east England, with a score of incoming flights being diverted from Gatwick to other British destinations. However, flights were operating again from Gatwick and Luton by mid-morning.
Heathrow Airport, the world’s busiest international aviation hub, remained open. In eastern England, pupils were given an early start to their holidays when schools were closed in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, where Queen Elizabeth II has also begun her holidays.
The queen’s Sandringham Estate, where she arrived on Wednesday for the annual Christmas celebrations with the royal family, was among the regions hit by thick snow.
–Agencies