Passengers still wait for 3,000 bags

More than 3,000 bags had still not been sent on today to join their owners who have flown abroad after a week of travel chaos at Heathrow.

That means many holidaymakers affected by the strike, which caused up to four days of delays, are abroad with only the clothes they wore on the flight. Some have now been waiting a week for their belongings.

British Airways pledged today to finish reuniting passengers and cases.

A BA spokesman said: "As of this morning, we have 3,000 bags still to be cleared at Heathrow. All of these should be on flights to their owners by the end of play today.

" Passengers f lying today should not be affected."

BA decided to let dozens of planes take off without luggage to clear the backlog of travellers more quickly.