Man released after airport alert

All flights in and out of the airport were cancelled for two hours

A Libyan oil worker questioned over a security alert which shut down Durham Tees Valley Airport, near Darlington, has been released without charge.

The 35-year-old man was arrested after concerns were raised when he checked in for a flight to London Heathrow at 0630 GMT on Saturday.

About 200 people were evacuated and all flights were cancelled for two hours.

A controlled explosion carried out by the Army on the electrical engineer's bags revealed no trace of explosives.

Missed flight

The baggage had been taken to a safe place until a bomb disposal squad from Catterick, North Yorkshire, arrived and carried out the explosion.

The man, who has been studying in Britain for six months, was arrested under the Terrorism Act.

He was questioned overnight at an unnamed police station, causing him to miss a planned flight from Heathrow to Tripoli on Saturday.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "A 35-year-old male who was arrested under the Terrorism Act as a result of an incident at Durham Tees Valley Airport."

Airport commercial manager Richard Whitehouse said about 750 passengers had been affected by the incident but flights had reverted to schedule after the delays.

No planes were diverted or services cancelled.