Heavy rain and gales of more than 100mph returned to Britain overnight - just days after the last storm caused Christmas misery for tens of thousands of people.

Gatwick Airport chiefs face a possible investigation over the Christmas travel misery as more stormy weather is set to hit the UK.

Passenger numbers at a leading holiday airport dipped very slightly last month, though only because February had 29 days in 2012.

Gatwick could be handling 40 million passengers a year by 2021/22 and around 45 million by 2030, the West Sussex airport’s bosses said today.

Airport operator BAA will still have to sell two of its UK airports following a provisional ruling today by Britain's Competition Commission (CC).

The cold weather bringing chaos to Ireland has also caused problems across large areas of Europe.

The £1.51bn (€1.66bn) sale of Gatwick airport was formally completed today, with unions anxious that the new owners preserve jobs and protect working conditions.

Ryanair announced today that it was to compete with rival easyJet on two key holiday routes from Gatwick.

Airport operator BAA put the For Sale sign up over Gatwick airport today in a move likely to spark a lively bidding war.

Richard Branson's airline, Virgin Atlantic, has said it would "relish" the chance to buy Gatwick Airport after heavily-criticised airport operator BAA put it up for sal today.

Competition chiefs are expected to pave the way for a major shake-up of the ownership of some of the UK's biggest airports.

The arrest of a Croatian football chief at Gatwick Airport before his country’s Euro 2008 clash against England was dismissed today as “a misunderstanding”.

The head of the Croatian football federation has been arrested at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of shoplifting, as his country prepare for their Euro 2008 match against England tonight.

British Airways is to start four new services from Gatwick while axing three routes from the West Sussex airport.

Plans for an £800m (€1.2bn) airport near Gatwick are under serious consideration by UK ministers preparing proposals to meet the soaring demand for air travel, the Independent reported without citing sources.

The British travel industry is to urge the UK government to reconsider a decision not to expand Gatwick airport, it was disclosed today.

Four men arrested under the Terrorism Act over the past seven days were today still being questioned by anti-terrorist officers.

Police have confirmed that a 36-year-old man had been detained at Gatwick Airport under the Prevention of Terrorism Act while on route to America.