A suspicious item which triggered the closure of Gatwick's South Terminal was thankfully not a danger to the public.

Sussex 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.

A security cordon has been put in place, people have been evacuated from the terminal and trains are not stopping at the airport.

As a precaution, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was deployed to the airport.

They have now concluded their investigation into the report of a “suspect package”.

Officers from the EOD team made the package safe, and the airport was subsequently handed back to its operator.

Two people who were detained while enquiries were ongoing but were then released to continue their journeys.

A police spokesman said: “Once the package was deemed safe, it was found that there was no risk to the public.

“However, in the interest of safety and security, it was important to allow the specialists the time and space that they needed to complete their assessment and deal with the package.

"Safety of the public, staff and other airport users has been our priority throughout the operation, and we thank them for their patience while the incident was ongoing."

There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel.