Stansted Airport has re-opened fully following a security alert this afternoon that saw police clear the departures lounge.
Up to eight flights were delayed while the departures lounge was closed for an hour. The area was re-opened at about 16.15.
A Stansted airport spokesman said: “Police needed to carry out additional security checks and asked us to clear passengers from departures.
The terminal was not cleared. We just took people out of the departures lounge.”
Flights which had already boarded were allowed to depart. Others were held for the delayed passengers.
Police have yet to give any further details.
The security alert occurred ahead of the evening rush hour at the airport. The spokesman said: “If there was a good time for this to happen, it was mid-afternoon.”