The air traffic control centre at Swanwick in Hampshire is finally operational, ending one of the most embarrassing episodes in government IT history.

The centre will cover all of England and Wales except London and Manchester, and should be capable of handling 30 per cent more flights.

It was expected to have a 30-year life. But its operator, National Air Traffic Services (Nats) is already planning to replace its systems in around 20 years.

Having tracked the story since it began 10 years ago, Computing looks back at yet another government IT project dogged by software problems and spiralling budgets.