Thousands of British flights have faced cancellations or delays over recent weeks, with one Oxfordshire grandfather spending close to a week trapped overseas.

Operational figures indicate that February snowstorms and industrial action resulted in more than 700 cancelled flights and approximately 5,000 delayed departures throughout Europe, with routes to and from London among those disrupted.

Additional data from March 10 documented at least 42 British flight cancellations alongside 146 delays at airports such as Heathrow, where carriers including British Airways and easyJet grappled with cascading effects from airspace restrictions and operational strain.

By March 18, another weather system combined with French air traffic control strikes had caused at least 210 further cancellations and over 2,700 delays across the continent.

Barry Wagner, a butcher from Henley and grandfather, found himself among those affected, remaining stuck in Dubai for almost a week.

This occurred after several attempts to fly back to Britain were abandoned before he finally managed to return earlier this month.

While stranded in Dubai, Mr Wagner informed ITV that uncertainty prevailed about what would occur next, with concerns centred on debris falling from interceptions being particularly alarming.

He expressed that his primary wish was to return home and see his family and grandchild, desperately wanting to be back in Britain.

Having since arrived back in Oxfordshire, the grandfather told the Henley Herald that the family felt tremendous relief at being home.

He noted that Dubai had been attractive and initially seemed secure, until the missile incidents obviously, though he stated he had no intention of returning in the foreseeable future.

He added that he would have no desire to experience again what they endured during that period.