Airport closed by security alert

About 200 passengers were evacuated from the airport terminal

Passengers were evacuated and flights delayed in an airport security alert.

Durham Tees Valley Airport was shut on Saturday morning after concerns were raised following routine checks on a passenger's bags, police said.

A 35-year-old man, who is a Libyan national, was arrested checking in at around 6.30am and is in custody in the county, Durham Police said.

A controlled explosion was carried out on the bags, but initial examinations found no explosive devices.

A police spokesman said the passenger was an electrical engineer working for a Libyan oil company who had been living in the North East for the last six months as a student.

He was due to travel on a British Midlands flight to Heathrow before catching another flight to Tripoli later on Saturday.

The spokesman said the man had been arrested under the terms of the Terrorism Act 2000.

'Controlled explosion'

A police spokesman said airport and security staff closed the airport to incoming and outgoing flights

About 200 people were evacuated as a precaution to a hangar on the site.

The baggage was taken to a safe place until a bomb disposal squad from Catterick arrived and carried out the controlled explosion.

Airport commercial manager Richard Whitehouse said the airport was shut for just over two hours and six flights were delayed.

He said about 750 passengers were affected but flights had reverted to schedule after the delays. No planes were diverted or services cancelled.

He said: "The evacuation went pretty much to plan. While it was frustrating, I think they appreciated that there was an incident.

"The safety and security of passengers, air crew and staff is of paramount importance."