"Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20am on Friday following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage. "To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with," the statement says.

A police investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick has concluded after the airport's south terminal was shut and a bomb disposal unit was deployed. The building was closed to new passengers for more than four hours on Friday as Sussex Police deployed its "explosive ordnance disposal" (EOD) team because of "the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage".

A bomb disposal team made the suspect package "safe" before allowing for the terminal to reopen, Sussex Police said. Passengers caught up in the disruption are being urged to contact their airlines.