Gatwick Airport was evacuated this morning - sparking wild rumours about what had caused the disruption.

Passengers writing on social media said that a fire alarm had sounded and people asked to leave the departure lounge area. One claimed the incident unfolded after a passenger "opened an emergency door exit to ", though this has been denied by a spokesperson for the . Others complained of large queues and "being crammed like sardines" for around half an hour with little information provided about what was going on.

READ MORE:

The evacuation, which began after 7am, was confirmed to be over around 8.30am. Passengers have returned to the terminal and are now being let through security again. are expected to continue as normal for the rest of the day.

A London Gatwick spokesperson told the : "The North Terminal was evacuated this morning following a fire alarm activation. The terminal is now back open and evacuated passengers have been processed back through security as quickly as possible."

In November, after the alarm was raised over a "suspicious package". The incident was attended by armed police and a bomb squad.

On the morning of the alert, staff abruptly told passengers "we're evacuating, you’ve got to leave" as firearms officers stood guarding the security area following the discovery of a "suspected prohibited item in luggage". An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was deployed to the airport, and a security cordon remained in place while the matter was being dealt with, said.

Two people were temporarily detained by police before being allowed to continue their journeys. Passengers forced wait outside in the cold were meanwhile handed foil blankets and bottles of water.