Security staff are seizing more than 2,000 sharp objects every day at Gatwick Airport despite the ban put in place after September 11.

The sheer number of items being collected has prompted airport bosses to relaunch a campaign reminding people not to carry sharp objects in their hand luggage.

About 150 extra security personnel have joined the 450 staff already working in the South Terminal to help carry out searches for knives, knitting needles, scissors and other objects since September 11.

Already this year, more than a quarter of a million pairs of scissors have been confiscated.

Roger Cato, Gatwick's managing director said: "We are trying to ram the message home that people should not put sharp objects in hand luggage.

"There was a campaign after September 11 and this relaunch aims to reinforce the message.

"Almost daily we are confiscating 2,000 objects, which slows the customs process down.

"We are coming up to a very busy period and just want to remind people to put these objects in their suitcases or leave them at home."

Mr Cato said all items were destroyed unless passengers particularly wanted them back. They then had to go through a long process to reclaim them.

Shops and restaurants were also now much more careful about what they sold to holidaymakers.

He said: "If a sharp item is put in the suitcase it is fine. It will go in the hold luggage and passengers can't get access to it during the flight.

"We do have people out on the concourse reminding people and showing people what they can and cannot take with them but they can't warn everyone.

"In the duty-free shops they are now not selling anything sharp like scissors and all the restaurants are using plastic cutlery."

The airport was working closely with the Department of Transport to ensure it came up with pragmatic solutions.

Mr Cato said: "We think we are the world leaders in terms of security although no security is 100 per cent. Even so, we are determined to do what we can."