SEE PHOTOS - Ireland's big freeze

With Christmas just four days away people across Europe are battling to spend the holiday season with their loved ones however planes continue to be grounded by the continuing snow and freezing temperatures.

European flight control, EuroControl, said that major disruptions in Frankfurt, Amsterdam and London has causing major delays and cancellations to flights across Europe.

Thousands are stranded all across Europe with no way of getting home. Forecasters believe that this heavy cold and snowy weather is likely to last until St Stephen’s Day in Britain.

In Ireland airports remain open and are now working through the backlog of flights accumulated of the last few days. British Airways had announced that it will have to cancel some of its services from London Heathrow as the airport is operating with just one of its two runways today.

Last night some Dublin commuters reported that it took five hours to get home yesterday evening with delays in transport until midnight last night. It is expected to remain the same on Tuesday for commuters.

Donegal has been hit hard by the snow over the last four days. Gas stations are now rationing diesel and petrol as the supply tankers have not been able to make their deliveries. Some tankers were able to deliver however in Gweedore and Gortahork customers are limited to buying €20 worth of fuel.

Ireland meteorological services, Met Eireann, has issued a severe weather warning of heavy snowfalls in west Ulster, Munster, Connacht and Leinster. They expect up to 12cm (4.5 inches) of snow.

Temperatures are expected to stay below zero and freezing fog continues to be problem. It’s expected that the snow will last until Christmas Day in some places.

SEE PHOTOS - Ireland's big freeze