British Airways has cancelled all flights from Heathrow and Gatwick until 18:00 BST because of computer problems.

A "major IT system failure that is causing very severe disruption to our flight operations worldwide", the airline said.

It apologised for the "global system outage" and said it was "working to resolve the the problem".

Heathrow Airport said it was "working closely" with BA to solve the issue.

There is no evidence at this stage to suggest the system failure was caused by a cyber attack, BA told the BBC's business correspondent, Joe Lynam.

Latest updates on BA flight disruption

All affected passengers will be offered the option of rescheduling or a refund.

In a statement, the airline asked passengers with flights before 18:00 BST on Saturday not to come to Gatwick or Heathrow airports, which it said had become "extremely congested".

Other airlines flying in and out of Heathrow and Gatwick are unaffected.

The problems mean parts of BA's website are unavailable and some travellers claimed they could not check in on the mobile app.

BA aircraft landing at Heathrow are unable to park up as outbound aircraft cannot vacate the gates, which has resulted in passengers being stuck on aircraft.

Journalist Martyn Kent said he had been sitting on a plane at Heathrow for 90 minutes. He said the captain told passengers the IT problems were "catastrophic".

BA staff in Heathrow's Terminal 5 were resorting to using white boards, according to passenger Gareth Wharton.

Delays have been reported in Rome, Prague, Milan, Stockholm and Malaga due to the system failure.

Philip Bloom said he had been waiting on board a Heathrow-bound flight at Belfast for two hours.

He added: "We haven't been told very much just that there is a worldwide computer system failure.

"We were told that we couldn't even get on other flights because they are unable to see what flights we can be moved to."

The BBC's Phillip Norton is at Rome International airport, where he has been waiting to fly to London.

He said BA staff were unable to say how long delays would be, telling him "all flights are grounded around the world".

Alma Saffari is in Marseille waiting to get her flight back to Heathrow.

She said: "When we finally boarded the captain came out and told us their computer systems were down worldwide.

"Eventually after sitting on the tarmac for 1 and a half hours we disembarked the plane.

"Now we are sitting in the departure area outside the gate."

Ms Saffari, who is with her 13-month-old baby, said she had been given a voucher for food and drink.

EU flight delay rights

Image copyrightMICHAEL SINGH

• If your flight departed the European Union or was with a European airline, you might have rights under EU law to claim if the delay or cancellation was within the airline's control
• Short-haul flights: 250 euros for delays of more than three hours
• Medium-haul flights: 400 euros for delays of more than three hours
• Long-haul flights: 300 euros for delays of between three and four hours; and 600 euros for delays of more than four hours
• If your flight's delayed for two or more hours the airline must offer food and drink, access to phone calls and emails, and accommodation if you're delayed overnight - including transfers between the airport and the hotel