Stansted Airport has reopened following the crash of a Korean Air cargo jet, but thousands of passengers still face huge delays on the terminal's busiest day.

Flights began taking off from the airport again at around 1100 GMT, following safety checks for possible debris on the runway.

But dozens of flghts have been rerouted or delayed and the backlog, on the heaviest day of the year for air traffic at the airport, will take several hours to clear.

Many passengers - hoping to get away for a Christmas break - are being bussed to other aiports.

Frustration

Most travellers appeared to be understanding, if frustrated by the delays.

Alan Steel, 27, from Swansea, said people were "just being philosophical" about the delays.

He said: "I'm on my way to Edinburgh for Christmas and I've been told our flight will now be going from Cambridge airport.

"I drove down the M11 last night soon after the crash and I suppose there is nothing that can be done.

"I have no idea what time I will get to Edinburgh."

Lawrence McKenna, 42, from London, said he had tried to call Virgin Airlines for news of his flight, but had been unable to contact anyone.

Mr McKenna, who had been planning to fly to Ireland for Christmas, said: "It is just one of those things.

"What has happened has happened and it can't really be helped."

He said he had been told his flight would now leave from Luton airport.

Frances and John Lane, from Dorset were on their way to spend Christmas in France with their family in St Etienne.

Mrs Lane said: "We have just arrived and we don't really know what is going on yet.

"The airport told us to check in as normal and that we should be prepared for a delay".

A spokeswoman for KLM Exel Airline said that some passengers were being diverted to flights going out of City Airport to Holland but that the company's planes were ready to leave Luton.