Thunderstorms disrupt Gatwick and Heathrow as hundreds of flights delayed or cancelled

Passengers report being stuck on grounded planes in sweltering conditions as severe weather causes travel disruption across Europe

• Europe heatwave: latest updates

Thunderstorms have caused severe delays to hundreds of flights at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, leaving passengers stuck on grounded planes for hours in the scorching heat.

Overnight, downpours and thunderstorms lit up the skies of London after back-to-back days of 30C-plus weather as the UK and much of Europe experienced a record-breaking heatwave.