A woman who was evacuated from Gatwick airport after a bomb disposal unit were dispatched says people were "running" and everything is "deserted"."

Tanya Willis, 30, was due to fly to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, for a weekend break at 11.25am this morning (22/11).

But after arriving to check-in for her flight she was taken to the airport lounge for 20 minutes before being told she needed to evacuate.

Sussex Police say the evacuation follows the discovery of a "suspected prohibited item in luggage"

and an explosive disposal team is being sent to the airport "as a precaution"."

Tanya, a teacher, from Merton, London, said: "I arrived at the airport and was taken to the airport lounge."



"I was there for about 20 minutes and then was suddenly told my a member of staff that everyone had to leave as the terminal was being evacuated, it's very scary."

"No one can leave or come out. Lots of people were running, all the shops have been closed up. "

"It looks like Covid again. Everything is just deserted - I've never seen anything like it."

Airport staff started instructing passengers to leave the airport at around 8am after the suspicious item was found in a piece of luggage.

Tanya said she and others in the South terminal of the airport have been moved down to gate 31 of the terminal while the police investigate.

In a statement, Sussex police said: "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."

"This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We'd advise the public to avoid the area where possible."