First passengers arrive back in UK

Stranded travellers are finally beginning to arrive back in the UK as travel restrictions ease.

The first plane to land at Heathrow's Terminal Five at 9.40pm was a British Airway's flight from Vancouver in Canada. Neil Rodgers, the first passenger through the doors, said: "It's good to be back."

More than 200 passengers arrived on an Air Transat flight from Toronto to Gatwick, which was diverted to Newcastle and landed at 7.40pm.

A-level student Liz Ross, 18, from Surrey, said: "I've got school tomorrow. I'm really worried about having missed school this week, with exams coming up every school day is precious."

Five coaches carrying 250 Britons left Madrid after the British Embassy there managed to arrange transport. The passengers will be driven to Calais before boarding a ferry across the Channel.