Fluid spill closes Gatwick runway

A total of 23 flights were cancelled on Sunday due to the snow

The main runway at Gatwick Airport has reopened following a fluid spillage.

Airport operator BAA said its airfield operations teams and fire service had cleared the hydraulic fluid after the runway was shut at 1120 GMT.

Ten flights had to be diverted to Bournemouth, Stansted, Southampton and Manston airports from Gatwick.

A spokesman for the airport in West Sussex said its shorter, northern runway was used until the main runway could be reopened.

On Sunday evening, a total of 23 flights were cancelled and 18 diverted to other airports when Gatwick closed its main runway for two hours because of heavy snow.