Almost 400 transatlantic airline passengers bound for London have been stranded overnight in Ireland.

Hundreds more were redirected to Shannon Airport because of travel disruption in the UK.

Two British Airways flights from Atlanta, carrying 122 passengers, and Dallas, with 259 onboard, which were expected in Heathrow will remain grounded in Ireland overnight.

They were among six flights forced to land in Co Clare because of the cold snap.

Some were in UK airspace or on approach to London when they were ordered back over Ireland.

Shannon Airport Authority confirmed arrangements are being made for stranded passengers on the Atlanta and Dallas flights to stay overnight.

They are expected to depart for London again on Monday morning.

Other Heathrow-bound services from Miami, Houston, Washington and Denver which were redirected to Shannon later took off for the UK. The aircraft were a mixture of Boeing 747s and 777s.

Shannon spokesman Eugene Hogan said the flights were redirected on Sunday morning. One Shannon to Heathrow flight has also been cancelled while others were delayed.

Aer Lingus and Ryanair have also axed a number of flights from Ireland to London and Birmingham following the snowfall in the UK. Flights from Cork and Belfast to Heathrow have also been affected.