No business like SNOW business!

EACH day thousands of passengers flying into or out of Manchester Airport and even during perfect weather conditions it's a finely balanced operation which gets travellers to their final destination.

- LIV CLARKE

Yet when temperatures plummet as they have done this week, the airport faces additional challenges.

Snow and ice are particularly dangerous for aircraft - you don't want to be landing on a slippery runway.

Then there's the 20 miles of runways, taxiways and stands that have to be cleared of ice and snow, which is no easy feat.

What makes it even more challenging is that the airport can't rely on using salt and grit, which is how roads, paths and car parks are treated, as it's corrosive and can damage aircraft.

Instead the runways are treated with de-icing fluid that prevents them from freezing.