Heavy snows strand British air travelers

LONDON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Britain's harsh winter weather and heavy snowfalls made for a second day of interminable travel delays throughout the country, officials said Tuesday.

Airline passengers were forced to spend the night trying to sleep on airport terminal floors as blizzard conditions forced the cancellation of 850 flights at Heathrow, as well as 47 at Gatwick and 170 at Stansted airports, the British tabloid The Daily Mail reported.

Observers said angry passengers at Heathrow were made to wait in lines for up to six hours as they rebooked flights, while others had to stay at nearby hotels charging up to $455 per night, which quickly filled up, the newspaper said.

British Airways reportedly bought lodgings for up about 2,500 passengers in hotels across London, although some passengers were unable to leave the airport because of visa restrictions.