Heavy snowfalls and freezing temperatures across Europe and the United Kingdom are causing Christmas heartache for thousands of stranded travellers.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, where a terminal was closed for fear the roof would collapse under the weight of the snow.

"I'm so tired that I no longer have the strength to be angry," French traveller Zoe Stephanou said.

"My flight to Milan has been cancelled twice. The first when there was no snow."

Sinead Kavanagh is a primary school teacher caught up in the chaos at Dublin Airport, where many are also facing the prospect of not getting home for Christmas.

"There's over 200 people on this plane; there's children, there's babies, there's kids waiting for Santa Claus," she said.

"Nobody knows if they're going anywhere. They've got connecting flights to make, and nobody knows.

"You know what we're waiting for? A de-icer. You know why we don't have a de-icer? They don't have the staff. It is a disgrace."

Disruptions are being made worse by a shortage of de-icing fluid, with fresh supplies not due until Monday.

It is the same problem at Brussels Airport, where snow has left just one runway in operation.

In the North Rhine area of Germany, the snow has brought traffic to a standstill in places.

Rail services were cut by ice on the electricity lines.

The snow is also causing disruption to road and rail systems in Sweden.

Heavy falls have been forecast for Scotland, with reduced rail services in other parts of the UK slowing the Christmas exodus.