HUNDREDS of flights have been cancelled and delayed at Gatwick airport due to an issue with air traffic control.

More than flights have been held up because of an issue with NATS, which controls all airspace in the UK.

Departures are being delayed for 51 minutes on average, while 39 have been cancelled. 

At the time of publication Gatwick has been given a five out of five rating for delays by flight tracking website Flightradar24.

This means "big problems with big delays and several flights cancelled".

A spokeswoman for Gatwick Airport said: “Flights continue to arrive and depart from Gatwick.

"However NATS, which controls UK airspace, currently has an issue with one of its radars and has put limits on the number of flights that can use Gatwick and other London airports. 

"Passengers flying are advised to check the latest on their flight with their airline.”