EASYJET have said they are sorry after passengers on a flight bound for Gatwick were left stranded 320 miles away from their destination.

Furious passengers returning from Berlin were left abandoned in Newcastle after their landing was aborted due to gale force winds caused by Storm Eunice on Friday.

Passengers were forced to wait on the tarmac for five hours before the flight was cancelled - forcing travellers to find an alternative way home.

Beverley Sedgwick had to catch a train back to London and slammed the airline over a "total lack of communication".

She said: "We were on the tarmac there for approximately five hours where the pilot tried to resolve the problem of returning us to Gatwick.

"Eventually he explained we would be put us up in a hotel and resume journey early tomorrow morning.

"We were to convene in the airport to be told by Swissport what arrangements had been made.

"However they then informed us that Easyjet's message was to make our own way home and we would be compensated.

"We were left to make a quick decision to get on a metro to Newcastle Central to get the last train to London King's Cross.

"Unfortunately there were many others who were left stranded or could not afford to make this decision in the hope of compensation.

"The total lack of communication was appalling although the crew themselves appeared to be sorry and were trying their best to sort out the situation."

Storm Eunice saw 100mph winds batter the county with dozens of flights cancelled and diverted.

Many drivers were stopped in their tracks as trees fell across carriageways and onto cars.

In Downsway, Southwick, a £30,000 Range Rover was flattened by a huge tree that was uprooted by the high winds.

The Met Office warned that flying debris could cause “danger to life”, as the forecaster ramped up the alert level to red, meaning extremely strong winds were likely.

A spokesman from EasyJet said: "Due to strong winds impacting parts of the UK on Friday, like other airlines, we experienced some disruption to our flying programme.

"Flight EZY8122 from Berlin to London Gatwick was unable to land in Gatwick and so the Captain had to take the decision to divert to Newcastle and the flight was subsequently cancelled.

“We did all possible to minimise the impact of the weather disruption for our customers and provided refreshment vouchers in the airport.

The Argus: The plane landed 320 miles away from Gatwick The plane landed 320 miles away from Gatwick

"Passengers on the cancelled flight have the option of transferring to an alternative flight free of charge or receiving a refund.

"Unfortunately, there was very limited hotel accommodation and no coach travel to London Gatwick available in Newcastle due the impact of the weather on local transport services, and so we advised customers they will be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses they incurred for their own accommodation, meals and transport arrangements.

“While this is outside of our control, we would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused by the weather.

"The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority.”