The British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Bermuda did not set off on Wednesday afternoon due to an aircraft problem.

Seventy passengers waiting here to catch the return flight to the UK that evening were re-routed through the US and about another 100 were offered alternative flights to England last night, tonight and tomorrow.

BA spokeswoman Sallie Singleton said: "It was cancelled due to aircraft unserviceability. The flight never took off from Gatwick as there wasn't a spare aircraft. It's not something that happens very often."