A police investigation into a report of a suspicious package at Gatwick has concluded after the airport’s south terminal was closed and a bomb disposal unit 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 due to ‘the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in baggage”.

It reopened around 3 p.m. after a security alert was lifted by police.

The force announced later on Friday afternoon that police had concluded their investigation, adding: “Officers from the EOD team secured the package and the airport was returned to its operator.

“Two people who were arrested while the investigation was ongoing were later allowed to continue their journey.

“There will be an increased police presence in the area to help passengers access the South Terminal to continue their journey.”

Sussex Police thanked commuters and airport staff for their patience while the incident continued.

The force said it was called at 8.20am to what is the UK’s second busiest airport.

Passengers who had not passed the security check had to evacuate around 10:30 a.m.

The airport issued a statement at 2:44 p.m. announcing the security alert had been resolved and the terminal was reopening, but warned there were delays and flight cancellations.

Around 100,000 passengers were expected to pass through the airport on Friday.

A number of flights to and from the South Terminal have been cancelled, including at least 16 departures and 13 arrivals by British Airways.

Other flights continued to take off, but carried only passengers who had passed security checks before evacuation.

A British Airways flight to Orlando in the United States left one hour and 49 minutes late.

Spanish carrier Vueling ordered an incoming flight from Barcelona and another from Seville to turn around and return to their departure airports.

A Norwegian flight to Bergen left two hours and seven minutes late.

The north terminal was not affected.

Nejadeen Braham, 35, who works as a nurse on the Isle of Man, was due to travel to her home country of Jamaica to collect her children.

Speaking to the PA news agency outside the South Terminal, she said: “I couldn’t get into the airport. I saw everyone coming out in the same direction.

“I was supposed to come in, drop off my bags and go through security. When I got here, I saw everyone getting off. There have been no proper updates. I’m very frustrated.

Train services at Gatwick have been suspended as the station is attached to the South Terminal.