Parents grateful for 'rescue' from airport chaos

The children were even allowed to look around their jets' cockpits, the charity said

A charity has thanked an airline for coming to the rescue of families seeking cancer treatment for their children after the Manchester Airport power cut grounded flights.

Two children were due to fly to the city from Dublin on two separate fights, which were cancelled in the wake of the stand-still.

They were being flown over by the The Gavin Glynn Foundation charity for proton beam therapy at The Christie hospital.

Speaking on behalf of the families, charity founder John Glynn said: "Aer Lingus were fantastic. They managed to get the families on flights to Birmingham, where we took them via taxi to Manchester."

One of the children affected, pictured with his father and an airline crew member

"Everybody is so grateful," he continued.

"It was a real cliff-hanger. The families were waiting at the airport and getting pretty upset.

"The longer it lasted, the children were getting upset because they could see how stressed their parents were.

"But the children started their treatment this morning on time."

Mr Glynn founded the charity after his own son Gavin died aged four 10 years ago and it specialises in flying children to places when treatment is not available in Ireland.

The foundation pays for all expenses.

"We were very fortunate as we have a lot of support from the airline," Mr Glynn said.

He added that the airline even allowed the children in to look around the cockpit of their jets.