More than 100 children were left heartbroken when a trip to see Father Christmas in Lapland was cancelled because their plane broke down.

Youngsters burst into tears at Gatwick after their fantasy-like holiday to Santa's grotto was abandoned.

Nine-year-old JJ Sutcliffe and his sister Sophie, 13, and brother Paul, 16, were among the dozens of excited children who endured a seven-hour wait before airport staff said a replacement flight to Lapland could not be found.

Chris Sutcliffe, 38, of Meadows, Hassocks, was furious his £2,000 plan to take the children and his wife Lisa, 36, on the Yuletide adventure on Monday had been wrecked.

The Transco engineer said: "We bought the flights as a Christmas present, so it was a big deal to my kids. I do not know about other people but it really meant a lot to us.

"It was a lot of money for a day trip and we had told the kids about it by the end of October. They had been looking forward to it ever since.

"My youngest was going to hand a letter to Father Christmas. The kids handled it quite well but dozens of children were booing their eyes out."

The Sutcliffes had got up at 2am to get to the airport for 4am. Announcements kept moving back the flight's departure time for about seven hours until travellers were told they would not have enough time in Lapland to warrant going.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "It's all for the kids and they are heartbroken. They had been looking at the brochure for weeks. You are supposed to get picked up from the airport in skidoos, a motorised snow vehicle, then they meet Father Christmas and go on sleigh rides.

"They sing carols on the plane - the fun is meant to start from the moment you get on board.

"It has ruined Christmas for all of us. It's been my wife's dream since she was a kid - she has always wanted to do it.

"It would have been the memory of a lifetime.

"JJ has gone really quiet. He's a funny little character and holds it all in. He just watched TV when we got home and did not say a word all day.

"We've talked about whether to do it next year but, having gone through that experience, we don't know if we want to risk it.

"The same flight was cancelled the day before - it's a complete shambles and it's mucking around children's lives. Grown-ups can take the disappointment but it stays with children."

A spokesman for organisers Canterbury Travel said technical problems on Monday meant the Flyjet aircraft was unable to leave within the required four-hour time frame.

"Canterbury Travel made every effort to reschedule the trip for December 21, although this was reliant on the required time slots being granted.

"However, the slots committee at Gatwick Airport was unable to accede to Excel Airlines' request for the reasonable time slots needed.

"Canterbury Travel sincerely regrets this series of events and will issue full refunds immediately."