Hundreds of Chelsea supporters will miss tonight's Champions League final after their chartered flight to Moscow was cancelled.

Reports say 224 Chelsea supporters have been stranded at Gatwick airport after initially being told their flight had been delayed before it was subsequently cancelled. Their fight has been expected to leave at 5.55am, but it was delayed until 1pm before airport staff told fans that a hydraulic fault meant they would not be going to Moscow.

Neil Turner, a Chelsea supporter travelling to Moscow with his father-in-law, said he was "absolutely gutted".

"This is the pinnacle of our Chelsea years," he said. "We are choked about the way we have been treated." He said the fans, who had paid about £1,000 each for the day trip, were told too late to make alternative plans to get to Moscow."

With last-minute flights starting at £1,200 return this appears to be the final blow for fans as the location for the Champions League final continues to undergo immense criticism.

The impact of the cancellation has triggered financial losses in the region of £1,500 per fan, taking into account the cost of transport, accommodation and match tickets.

The fans travelling to Moscow thought they had secured a seat to watch the two English clubs battle in the final of Europe’s premier club competition, but many have now left the airport and made alternative arrangements to watch tonight's match.