Amazon Prime Video down: App stops loading TV shows and films amid streaming issues

More people watch TV shows and movies through sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime than they do through traditional satellite and cable TV (Getty Images)

Amazon Prime Video appears to have stopped working for some users, with films and TV shows failing to stream.

While the web version of the service appears to be functioning more reliably, the app is refusing to load video, apparently because of technical issues.

Even on the app, some parts of the platform appeared to be working fine. It was possible to scroll through videos and search, for instance.

But actually attempting to open and watch a video did not seem to work. It just showed a circle and a message reading "loading", but the video did not display.

Vast numbers of people were affected by the problem, according to tracking website Down Detector. The issues were particularly focused in the UK and western Europe, with few reports elsewhere.

Amazon Prime Video costs £5.99 per month. Users can also sign up for the full version of Amazon Prime – either at £79 for the year or £7.99 per month – and get other services including next day delivery.