Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

Sussex Police has released a statement following the latest incident.

"Gatwick Airport have advised us that airfield operations have been suspended for safety reasons while reports of renewed drone activity are investigated.

"Sussex Police is supporting the airport and is proactively deploying significant resources to seek and locate the drone and its operator and to ensure the safety of the travelling public and all those in and around the airport."

Flights at Gatwick Airport have again been suspended because of a suspected drone sighting, prompting further passengers to be stranded after planes were grounded for around 36 hours.

The airport said operations were halted on Friday evening after a sighting at around 17:10 GMT.

The runway had been reopened in the morning after planes were stopped from flying in and out of the airport from 21:00 GMT on Wednesday.

Police believe more than one unmanned aircraft are responsible and are investigating the possibility of multiple culprits.

A Sussex Police spokesman said flights were being grounded after "unconfirmed reports" of a fresh sighting.

There's anger from people caught up in the further delays.

Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

Passengers at Gatwick have reacted with dismay at the latest development.

A woman called Poppy, who is currently on the Gatwick runway hoping to fly to Doha and then Auckland, told the BBC she was "very disappointed" after the latest sighting.

She added: "I'm worried we're not going to make it in time for Christmas."

On what she thinks of the people responsible, Poppy said: "It's very disruptive, kind of selfish."

A Gatwick spokeswoman said: "We have currently suspended airfield operations as a precaution due to a suspected drone sighting."

The sighting occurred at around 17:10 GMT.

Flights have been suspended at Gatwick Airport again as a "precaution" following further reports of a drone sighting.

Police say they have "learned lessons" after taking "hours" to co-ordinate and deploy a range of measures in response to the drone incursions at Gatwick.

Assistant Chief Constable of Sussex Police, Steve Barry, told the BBC's Tom Symonds: "There were always some measures in place but the additions to those took some time to request and to arrive here in Gatwick airport."

He added: "We're talking hours rather than of days, but coordinating that, deploying that, getting that set up at Gatwick has taken some time and we've learned from that."

Image source, Getty Images

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has said he would like to "echo the comments" made by Gatwick Airport and "commend everyone for their hard work to ensure the airport is safely back open and getting passengers on the move again".

He added: "Today I have had productive discussions with the ABI (Association of British Insurers) on reimbursing those passengers with insurance cover whose flights were delayed or cancelled.

"I have had further conversations with the aviation industry about measures that can be put in place to help protect airports from similar incidents happening again."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

Photographer Eddie Mitchell took these pictures at Gatwick Airport this afternoon.

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

Their host families had feared the shutdown would prevent the children from enjoying two weeks of TLC.

Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

Rail operators say they'll still accept tickets bought in advance up to tomorrow, even if passengers had to postpone their journeys.

The advice from all rail operators is to check the status of your flight before you leave.

The latest details from Gatwick are available here, external.

Police hunting those responsible for the Gatwick drones chaos have identified "persons of interest", the BBC understands.

The UK's second busiest airport has reopened after drones flying over the airfield closed it for more than a day.

Police are exploring "a number of lines of inquiry", including environmental activism and "high-end criminal behaviour".

Here is a summary of the current situation:

• The runway was reopened on Friday morning after planes were stopped from flying in and out of the airport for around 36 hours

• However, a Gatwick spokesman said 91 of 412 scheduled arrivals have been cancelled, while 64 of 371 scheduled departures have been cancelled
• Police believe more than one unmanned aircraft was responsible - although none have been sighted since around 22:00 GMT on Thursday - and are investigating the possibility of multiple culprits
• Military equipment is being used to stop further drone disruption, while a range of tactics are in place if any unmanned aircraft are seen inside the perimeter

• Police are keeping an open mind over the motive, with theories including an environmental protest, but are not treating it as a terrorist incident
• Sussex Police said there is no evidence of involvement of a foreign power, but described the drone activity as "really high-end criminal behaviour"

Gordon Collingwood: "My son arrived on time tor his easyJet flight at 06.00 at Gatwick today and left virtually on time. He is now up in the Alps in a cabin after two trains and a taxi ride. Good job he ignored all the advice online and easyJet information. Terrible communication and information lines."

Kate Dunnachie: "We were due to fly to Glasgow this morning from Gatwick via easyJet. The flight was cancelled last night so we got a Virgin train to Glasgow. We arranged connecting flights to one of the Scottish islands, if we hadn’t made the decision to get the train we would have lost out on all outbound/return trips. I feel very sorry for all effected over Christmas."

Tell us how you've been affected by emailing us, sending us a tweet, external or a message on Facebook, external.

Virgin Atlantic has issued a statement warning its customers they "may still be subject to disruption throughout today".

It added: "We would like to reassure customers due to travel with us that we are continuing everything we can to minimise disruption to their travel plans, and would encourage them to check the details of their flight at www.virginatlantic.com, external.

"We apologise for the continued inconvenience, particularly at such an important time of the year, but the safety and security of our customers and staff is our number one priority and we remain in close contact with Gatwick Airport and government authorities to resolve the situation.”

Image source, Reuters

Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

Gatwick has just released an update, warning passengers they must check with airlines before travelling to the airport because of ongoing delays.

After witnessing the disruption caused by drones at Gatwick, Liverpool Airport told the BBC it was "carefully monitoring the situation both nationally and locally".

A spokesman said they had Merseyside Police "on site 24/7 with a process in place to report drone sightings on or around the airfield".

"Sightings and the subsequent response would be escalated related to frequency and proximity to aircraft flight paths," they added.

Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

Travellers are finally beginning their journeys, but are counting the cost of Gatwick's drone delays.

Gatwick staff have been handing out packs of Christmas variety chocolates to passengers affected by the delays.

Workers have been touring the terminals with trolleys loaded with the treats.