Aberdeen now has its third direct air link with Denmark following the launch of a new service to Billund, the home of Lego.

Leisure travellers looking to visit the original Legoland theme park can take advantage of flights operating three days a week in both directions, with plans to increase the schedule to six weekly return trips.

Anyone hoping to catch this week's services could face problems, however, as the online booking service was not working yesterday.

A spokeswoman for the Danish airline, Cimber Sterling, said it was trying to sort out difficulties with its booking system as quickly as possible. The service took off on Sunday and has been introduced in response to growing demand for flights between Aberdeen and Scandinavian airports, says Cimber.

Other new routes under consideration by fellow airlines could result in the north-east's first direct air link with Germany, possibly by next summer.

Discussions are "well underway" to introduce connections to major German transport hubs, such as Frankfurt, an Aberdeen Airport spokeswoman said yesterday.