ALL UK flights were today suspended after computers crashed at the air traffic control centre at Swanwick in Hampshire, pictured.

Controllers were forced to guide aircraft manually after computer equipment went down at 6am.

All departures from airports across the UK were grounded although some incoming flights - both domestic and international - were able to land.

Aviation experts have warned that there could be knock-on affect lasting days.

The £623m Swanwick centre has been dogged by problems. It opened in January 2002, more than six years behind schedule and more than £200m over budget. The centre handles two million flights a year.