The UK Border Agency in Croydon had to cancel hundreds of visa appointments after its biometric ID system crashed yesterday.

People were told to go home and re-apply for an appointment online while others were reportedly left in tears at the cancellations.

Concerned applicants may face weeks of waiting to get back into the system.

The UKBA said the systems are back up and running today with only a small backlog of appointments and the most urgent applications being dealt with first.

The spokesman said: "Anyone who needs an urgent appointment will get one."