Image source, EPA

The prime minister has said that she feels for passengers affected by the disruption at Gatwick and the government is working with authorities to bring it to a close.

Theresa May told a press conference at Lancaster House: "I feel for all those passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted by this drone activity and the action that's had to be taken in response to it.

The prime minister added that because of the time of year "this is particularly difficult for people".

She said the government had already passed legislation in relation to the use of drones and the activity at Gatwick was illegal.

"We're consulting on further aspects of this including for police powers, but we will continue to work with the Gatwick authorities and police will be working with the Gatwick authorities in order to bring this to a close," she added.

Joy Lansdowne was driving from Bristol to Gatwick in the early hours to take her children to Disneyland, but is now heading back to the West Country for an alternative flight.

Lynette Dobbin has been at Gatwick since this morning, and is using the technology to stay informed.

Brian Strutton, General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) told the BBC:

"We have been working closely with the Department for Transport on these issues, and we were pleased to see new drone laws put in place earlier this year, but we said they do not go far enough. The Government was clear to BALPA that they were open to extending the 1km exclusion zone, and it is now obvious that must happen urgently. BALPA is calling for a 5km exclusion zone.

"This incident also reinforces the need for registration of drones and licensing of operators so that the police can track and trace drones which are being flown dangerously or irresponsibly and for the industry to invest in technology which can detect drones and stop them from being flown near airports and aircraft."

Sean Horton from Brighton is hoping to fly to Malta for Christmas - but has not had much luck after arriving at Gatwick at 5:25 GMT this morning.

"We got through security quite simply. But then flocks of people were turning up," he told the BBC.

"The worse thing is that there’s no communication whatsoever.

"I tried to talk to someone earlier but the queues are ridiculous – you're better off trying to get a seat.

"We're just going to wait it out."

Image source, Sean Horton

An airline source has told the BBC that flights are currently cancelled until at least 19:00 GMT.

A total of 722 flights were scheduled to and from Gatwick today across all airlines.

As per Gatwick's latest statement, the latest sighting of a drone in the vicinity of the airport was at around lunchtime today.

Simon Powell told the BBC:

"I was flying back to Gatwick after a business trip to Milan. We were due to land at London Gatwick at around 22:00 GMT. Instead we were told of the closed airspace and diverted to Paris Charles de Gaulle.

"Since then, lots of waiting, stress, poor information, further delays and ongoing confusion. Hundreds of people waiting in airport lounges glued to mobile devices for information.

"Painful for those of us wanting to get home to families and other commitments."

Teddy, seven, tells Victoria Derbyshire of his sadness at having to cancel a trip to see Father Christmas.

Flights headed for Gatwick continue to be diverted to airports around Europe.

The BBC's Paul Harrison has the latest:

Doncaster Sheffield Airport - A spokesperson said: "A Norwegian Air flight from JFK, New York that should have landed at Gatwick was diverted to DSA and landed at approximately 10.10 this morning. Passengers disembarked and have been transported back to Gatwick."

Glasgow Airport - They received a West Jet flight from Toronto.

Newcastle Airport – A spokesperson said: “This morning, at around 08:30 we accepted one diverted B777 British Airways inbound flight from Antigua.”

Southampton Airport – Waiting for more information.

Amsterdam Schiphol - A Schiphol Airport spokesman said: “Two planes were diverted from Gatwick to Schiphol this morning.”

Edinburgh - No diversions.

Leeds-Bradford Airport - No diversions.

East Midlands Airport – A spokesman said: "We had two diverts at around midnight. One flight from Ilha do Sal (Cape Verde) and Hurghada (Egypt). These flights had 286 passengers on board all of whom were bussed back to Gatwick."

Glasgow Prestwick Airport - No diversions.

Liverpool Airport - A spokesman said: “We had five flights divert in here last night between 23:00 and 02:40 from JFK, Keflavilk, Prague, Malaga and Paphos operated by a mix of Norwegian, easyJet and TUI.”

BBC transport correspondent Paul Clifton describes the scene at Gatwick:

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Pippa Malmgren, co-founder of drone manufacturing company H Robotics, says the drone causing disruption at Gatwick is likely to be a "toy" rather than a machine for commercial use.

Unlike drones for commercial use, smaller toy drones aren't tracked on GPS and don't have height or distance limiters, she told BBC Radio 4's World at One.

“What you’re relying on is good behaviour and knowledge of the law," she said.

According to one passenger, patience is wearing thin at Gatwick amid queues off up to five hours just to speak to information desks.

Ricardo Bassani, from London, was due to be flying from Gatwick to New York's JFK Airport at 6:10 GMT.

He told the BBC: “We were up at 01:30 this morning, we arrived at the airport at about 04:00 and it slowly dawned on us - through the BBC website actually - that there were issues.

“The real issue is that there has been no information. Not a soul here to tell us what’s going on. We are just hearing rumours from fellow passengers. Just sitting here, waiting.

“I’m currently in a queue, which will apparently take five hours to get to the Norwegian Air assistance desk.

“There are people pushing in and scuffles are breaking out.

“We’ve looked at getting flights from Heathrow instead but they cost around £1,500-2,000 each and I checked with my insurance and they do not cover for issues due to drone activity.”

Image source, Getty Images

Ranald Gordon and his wife were on a flight from New York which was diverted to Shannon, then cancelled altogether, but have been able to make alternative arrangements and are making the best of the situation.

Image source, PA

This father is concerned for his family, who were heading off on a surprise visit to his wife's parents.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Laws relating to airports and drones are "woefully inadequate", Chris Hammond of the British Airline Pilots Association has said.

It is currently illegal to fly a drone within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary.

Endangering the safety of an aircraft is a criminal offence which can carry a prison sentence of five years.

But the former captain, who flew for Easyjet and British Airways, told BBC Radio 4's World at One other countries had restrictions on flying within 5km of an airport and the UK should look at strengthening its laws.

Mr Hammond said he also wanted to see more technologically disruptive measures to prevent drones entering airspace.

Drones that forced the closure of Gatwick's runway are believed to be "industrial" models, police have said.

Sussex Police posted a message on Twitter, which stated: "It is believed that the Gatwick devices used are of an industrial specification.

"We are continuing to search for the operators."

Image source, PA

Southern, one of the main rail operators which travel through Gatwick Airport, is giving detailed advice on Twitter.

Southern's parent company Govia Thamselink says passengers with rail tickets to and from Gatwick will be able to use them to get to Luton Airport instead, while passengers with airline tickets can use them to get to King's Cross, St Pancras, Stevenage or Peterborough, where they can pick up long distance rail services.

Meanwhile Southeastern says it will accept any tickets as part of a journey to or from Gatwick Airport dated for 19 and 20 December on Friday 21 December at no additional cost.

Frank Gardner
BBC Security Correspondent

Whitehall officials say the Gatwick drone situation is not currently being treated as terrorism-related.

While they are keeping an open mind they say its being dealt with by the police as disruptive behaviour with no sign of coordinated terrorist planning.