Birmingham Airport is slowly getting back to normal operations following the investigation of a suspicious vehicle parked nearby.

The police have concluded their work and have found no risk to the public - and we are closing our live coverage.

We're still following this event to work out what happened, and you can read our ongoing coverage as it's updated through the evening.

Thanks for staying with us today - and if you're delayed at the airport, we hope you're on the move soon.

A Birmingham Airport spokesperson has told us that it is "working closely with its airline partners to minimise any potential disruption to customers. "The majority of flights that were held on the ground have now departed, with only one cancelled flight."Customers are still advised to check their flight status with their airline. “We again apologise for the inconvenience to our passengers but their safety and security is our priority.”

Birmingham Airport is returning to normal now, so here's a recap of what's been happening:

• At 13:34 the airport announced it was "suspending operations" at the airport
• It asked people not to enter the building and some people were evacuated as a precaution, but some passengers in their departure areas were able to remain
• Departing flights were held at the airport
• West Midlands Police said it was called to investigate reports of a suspicious vehicle
• West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service were also called
• Some passengers were taken to a hall at the nearby NEC while the situation was dealt with
• Passengers landing at the airport were asked to remain on their planes
• Just after 15:30 the airport announced people were being allowed back into the terminal
• West Midlands Police said army bomb disposal experts had declared the suspect vehicle safe

Travellers have legal rights, external if they're impacted by flight delays. But they may not be much help in circumstances like today's.

The Civil Aviation Authority says: "The UK law on flight compensation uses the term 'extraordinary circumstances' to refer to situations where delays or cancellations have been caused by things that are not the responsibility of the airline. If extraordinary circumstances apply, you are not entitled to compensation."

In other cases, after a certain length of delay relative to the distance you're travelling, airlines must provide you with food and drink, a means of communication, accommodation in the event of re-routing, and transport between the accommodation and the airport.

Eve Webster
BBC Radio WM

Some people are not happy with the way the situation at the airport was dealt with today.

Samia Khan said: "I could have easily just caught the train to Amsterdam and I'm probably going to opt for that next time, because flying's just been made so difficult with all the delays."

She added: "Birmingham Airport could have just dealt with the whole situation much better.

"There was no updates, nobody telling us what was going on, its just absolutely ridiculous."

We've received a new update from West Midlands Police.

They say that the airport was "partially evacuated" so officers could investigate a suspicious vehicle.

"Following a search by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, the vehicle was deemed to be safe."

They add the vehicle is no longer being treated as suspicious and "there is no wider risk to the public."

Earlier, the airport commented: "Whilst we apologise for any inconvenience and disruption, the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our number one priority as we worked through this incident with police partners."

Eve Webster
BBC Radio WM

Andrew and Jens are hoping to return home to the Netherlands and were due to fly to Amsterdam this afternoon.

Andrew told me he was "hopeful" of getting back, but also "a bit anxious".

Jens told us: "We just saw the end phase of the havoc, hopefully we just make our way to check-in and it doesn't take too long."

We're getting a better picture now of how long the delays to flights leaving Birmingham are.

According to the airport's departures board, external, a flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport scheduled for 13:50 BST has called for final boarding - marking a delay of more than two hours for passengers.

A 14:05 BST flight to Tenerife and a 14:15 BST flight to Madrid are also boarding.

A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: “Following a police investigation, some passengers were evacuated and we had to suspend departing flights for a couple of hours. That investigation has now concluded, and operations will slowly be returning to normal. All passengers are advised to check latest flight information from their airline.

“Whilst we apologise for any inconvenience and disruption, the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our number one priority as we worked through this incident with police partners.”

One passenger who was evacuated to the nearby NEC tells the BBC that the airport is slowly allowing passengers back in.

Sounding sirens "have all stopped", says Sally Davies.

She says the sirens were "deafening" until a few moments ago. Passengers are now being "herded back inside - they're telling us they are going to start taking us section by section back into the airport", she adds.

Ms Davies adds that airport staff have been very calm in the face of so much uncertainty: "No-one looks remotely stressed", she says.

She's not confident her flight will leave any time soon. Originally, she was meant to fly at 16:00 BST, but suspects she will be stuck for a few hours.

Simon Browning
BBC News

Birmingham airport has confirmed in the last few minutes that passengers are being allowed back into the terminal.

But it has warned there will be ongoing disruptions and passengers are being advised to check with their airlines.

Simon Browning
BBC News

Birmingham Airport has told the BBC it didn’t stop all activity and operations during the current security evacuation.

The BBC understands that departing passengers were still permitted to depart as they had cleared security and that was deemed safe.

In order to stop people coming into the airport before security, a police cordon was set up and passengers were advised not to come to the airport. Passengers who were checking-in were evacuated.

Departures will be interrupted and passengers must check the airport’s website as airlines and tour operators will be making decisions on their schedules.

The airport started its evacuation in the areas before security around two hours ago

Once police have said the cordon can be lifted, passengers will be advised to check the websites of Birmingham Airport and their airlines for updates.

Frustrated travellers are weighing in on a Facebook post warning passengers to avoid the airport.

Some have described being struck on the tarmac, with passengers not allowed to disembark from their planes.

"Sat on a plane in the airport - been here an hour already," one user replies to the Birmingham Airport post.

"My mum is stuck on a plane on the runway in Birmingham on return from Spain. No one is allowed off plane," another adds.

We'll bring you more from stranded passengers as we receive it. As a reminder, if you are affected and would like to get in touch, you can email our news desk at newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk.

Due to the evacuation of the airport, many passengers have been taken to the neighbouring NEC while emergency services work at the scene.

This video from Sally Davies shows people taking refuge in one of the halls at the venue.

West Midlands Fire Service says it has two officers at Birmingham Airport.

The service says that it was notified of an incident at 12:20 BST today.

Officers are "working closely with police, ambulance, and airport staff.

"Local resources are on standby, ready to provide additional support if needed."

Are you affected by the evacuation? Get in touch and share your experience.

You can contact us in the following ways:

Email: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803, external

Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay, external

BBC Radio WM

A caller, Neil from Dudley, has been speaking on BBC Radio WM about the situation.

He said his flight home from Faro airport after a golfing holiday had already been delayed before the news of the Birmingham Airport alert came through.

He said: "We're just wondering if they'll redirect the flight".

But he said there was very little information about the situation available in Portugal.

Motorists can expect delays as they pass by the airport - we are seeing reports that roads in the area are jammed while police carry out their investigation.

Buses are also expected to see delays and diversions, specifically on the X1, X12 and 97a routes, Safer Travel Police write on X.

Buses are unable to reach the airport terminal at this time.

Trains do not appear to be affected - the departures board at Birmingham New Street showed on-time services for routes to the airport.

This isn't the first time the airport has been evacuated this year.

Hundreds of holiday-makers had to leave an area of the arrivals zone in September while police carried out an investigation.

Flights were also suspended by a security incident in April.

West Midlands Police later reported that was "a false call" and "the item is not suspicious".

Ian Pugh, who works close to the airport has shared this photo with us.

A lot of people on social media are asking what is going on, and some say they are stuck on their planes, unable to get off at this time.

Image source, Ian Pugh