07/12/2013 BBC Weekend News

Flights are delayed and cancelled because of problems at air traffic

control. Thousands of passengers are stuck on planes and in airports

across the United Kingdom and Ireland. There has been a

restriction to the number of flights going to and from the United Kingdom

this morning, hence the delays. All I can do is offer mice sensei

apologies. -- my sincere apologies. The National Air Traffic Control

Service says it's sorry but admits it can't be sure when the problem

will be fixed. In South Africa, three days of funeral processions

for Nelson Mandela are announced, as preparations are made for him to lie

in state. And counting the cost of the clean-up after the floods caused

by the tidal surge. Good afternoon. Airline passengers

are facing delays and cancellations at airports across the United

Kingdom and Ireland because of a fault at air traffic control. The

airports affected include Heathrow, Stansted, Cardiff, Glasgow and

Dublin. National Air Traffic Control says it is sorry but admits it is

not sure when the problem will be fixed. Sophie Hutchinson is at

Heathrow Airport. For many people hoping to fly

today, it has been miserable. Here at Heathrow, they have cancelled 200

flights and there have been delays of several hours. For passengers

right across the country, they have faced significant disruption. There

has been a restriction in the number of flights to and from the United

Kingdom, hence the delays. One of many planes across the

country trapped on the ground due to technical problems with air traffic

control. This is where it went wrong - the National air traffic control

service in Hampshire. It ensures all aircraft in the UK skies take off

and land safely. A problem searching from night to day operations has

caused chaos. Engineers say it is linked to voice communications,

including telephones. Fixing it is proving very difficult. Have they

been able to specify exactly where the fault is? Not at the moment. At

this point, you do not know when this can be resolved? We do not. We

are working hard to fix the problem but we do not know how long it will

take to resolve. Southhampton Airport is affected. Others include

those in London, last go and Dublin. It is proving frustrating for

passengers. Air-traffic controllers do not have plan B. We may end up

missing our game today. We woke up at 5am and now it is 10:30am and we

are still waiting for our plane. Travel experts are warning more

trouble may be ahead. Even if the system is fixed right now, there is

a terrible backlog of planes waiting to depart, particularly from

Heathrow and Gatwick. On top of that you have pilots and aircraft in the

wrong places. I am afraid it will be miserable for the rest of the day.

The National Air Traffic Control Service has apologised for the

delays, which are up to four hours long. Passengers. Perhaps the first

glimmers of hope. Air-traffic controllers are saying they

understand the problem which happened at the heart of their

system and they are working around the clock to rectify it. The South

African government has given more details of plans to honour the

former president, Nelson Mandela. His funeral cortege will travel

through the streets of the capital, Pretoria, on three consecutive days

before his burial next Sunday, with mourners encouraged to line the

route. Our correspondent is in Soweto for us. What will happen now?

South Africa has already embarked on ten days of national mourning after

the death of Nelson Mandela. Flags are flying at half-mast. In places

all over the country, people are gathering to pay respects to stop

they are leaving flowers and cards. Tomorrow will be a day of national

prayer. The president will attend a special service in Johannesburg.

Then there will be a national memorial service taking place at one

of the main football stadiums at the beginning of the week. His body has

been prepared so it can lie in state for three days. Then his body will

travel to the Eastern Cape and his homeland, where he grew up and his

formative years were developed in this country. That will be the key,

most emotional, part of this whole journey of ten days of remembering,

as it were. That will be the opportunity for ordinary South

Africans to pay their respects and line the route as the body moves

from the airport in the Eastern Cape to its final burial place. The

ruling party believes that will be the opportunity for local people to

really pay their respects to a man they see as the father of the

nation. Thousands of people are returning to their homes on the east

coast of Britain, after what the Environment Agency has described as

the most serious tidal surge in 60 years. 1400 homes were flooded.

Attention has now turned to the clean-up operation. Ed Thomas has

this report from Boston in Lincolnshire. Today, the clean-up

begins. Floodwaters have gone but the mess has not. It is also a time

for businesses to assess the damage. How much flooding did you

get? We got a wet carpet and floors. The bottom of them was filled with

water. Others were not so lucky. Rebecca Calais last week won a

business award. Today she has lost everything. It feels like my heart

has been ripped out. Everything from the last year I have put into this

business. She is insured. Her excess is ?1000. Across the UK, insurers

are counting the cost of the worst tidal surge in 60 years. Contact

your insurance company as quickly as possible. Then we can help and get

the repair is ongoing. It took minutes for this street to flood. It

will take weeks to clear up. This will give you some idea as to how

ferocious the tidal surge was. The height of the wet bricks gives few

clues about what the water did. Compare that with flood defences

along this lame. Look at the height of these sandbags! Homes and

businesses did not stand a chance. Forecasters say the worst is over.

What is not known is the cost of repairing homes and businesses

battered by the waves and storms. Trade ministers have struck a deal

which, it is hoped, could boost trade and created 20 million jobs.

The agreement will cut import barriers and help developing nations

subsidise farmers to safeguard food supplies. England are heading for a

big defeat in the second Ashes Test match at Adelaide. The Australian

fast bowler Mitchell Johnson took seven wickets as the England's

batting collapsed leaving them a difficult task to avoid going 1-0

down in the series. Our sports correspondent watched the action.

There is a famous tale about the bands playing on wild the ship

sinks. England had disappeared. Jo route through his wicket away. Self

inflicted woes. Was batting possible? Certainly for Michael

Carberry. He fell on 60. A wonderful catch from Warner, which put England

's drops into context. Over to Mitchell Johnson. Lord went to the

first ball he faced. Anderson another first ball duck.

Overwhelming bowling. Broken stumps mean much more than words about

broken arms. No need to speak. Ian Bell attacked. He finished on 72 not

out. Monty Panesar showed courage. No disgrace for him. England all out

for 172. Seven wickets for Mitchell Johnson. Do all English batsmen have

the stomach to face him? Australia are underway in their second

innings. They already lead by 530. They will make England bat again and

unleash Mitchell Johnson again. There is no hiding place. You can

see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News Channel. That's all

from me, stay