A Cyprus Airways jetliner has skidded off a runway at Heathrow Airport in London, lodging its front landing wheel in a grass verge on the end of the taxi-way.

Snow and ice are being blamed for the incident which happened when the flight landed at 10.20am (Cyprus Time) and was moving to Terminal 1.

Airport authorities are attempting to move the aircraft to the correct terminal with mechanised removal equipment.

BBC News reports that the British Airports Authority (BAA) said passengers were unharmed and were remaining on the aircraft.

The Cyprus Airways Airbus A330-200, had just arrived from Larnaca (CY-332).

A BAA spokesperson said the front wheel of the plane had landed in the grass area and was being removed.

Heavy snow has fallen across large parts of England, disrupting travel and closing hundreds of schools.

South-east England has the worst snow it has seen for 18 years, causing all London buses to be pulled from service and the closure of Heathrow runways.

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