WhatsApp down: Messaging app hit with connection problems

Messaging app WhatsApp has momentarily stopped working for thousands of users.

The problem appears to be centred around the UK and has caused a huge amount of frustration for people relying on the app to message.

According to website Down Detector, the app went down at 6pm GMT

The app, which is owned by Facebook, is used by over one billion people globally so can cause mayhem when it stops working.

People took to Twitter to check that they weren't the only people struggling with the app.

The places most affected are the UK, mainland Europe and parts of the US.

This is not the first time the WhatsApp has run into problems. In August the app mysteriously stopped sending and receiving messages worldwide.

People were affected across the globe including Northern Europe, Mexico and Brazil according to Down Detector at the time.