The number of passengers using Gatwick airport continued to steadily rise over Christmas, latest figures show.

BAA says Britain's seven main airports experienced their busiest-ever December and handled a record number of passengers in 2003, up 3.6 per cent at 131.1 million.

Stansted Airport had the busiest December, up 21.4 per cent, while Heathrow was up 3.4 per cent and Gatwick up 3.9 per cent.