Cold weather grips Europe causing transport disruption

LONDON. December 2. KAZINFORM Heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures are causing another day of disruption to northern Europe's transport network; Kazinform refers to BBC News.

Severe flight delays were reported at airports in Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Prague and Paris Orly.

Eurostar trains from France faced cancellations or delays while snowfalls trapped hundreds of motorists in Brittany and Normandy.

In Belgium, 650km of traffic jams were reported, with Flanders hit hard.

Snow also affected the UK, where Gatwick airport was closed and some rail services in the south were cut.

Freezing conditions will continue for days as the low-pressure front centred over western Europe moves slowly eastward.

"We've got unusually cold air over large parts of the eastern Atlantic, and where that meets warm air coming for example from the Mediterranean you have a lot of snow," said Heinz Maurer of Meteosuisse, the Swiss national weather service.

He predicted that snowfall would ease in central Europe during the day; Kazinform cites BBC News.

See www.bbc.co.uk for full version