SUSSEX Police have requested support from the army to help deal with the chaos at Gatwick Airport.

Tens of thousands of passengers have had their Christmas getaways disrupted after drones were flown over the UK's second busiest airport. 

Gavin Williamson, secretary of state for defence of the United Kingdom, said: "We will be deploying the armed forces to give them [Sussex Police] the help that they need to help deal with the situation at Gatwick Airport."

The defence minister said he could not reveal in what form the military help will be in but added: "The armed forces have a range of unique capabilities and this isn't something we would usually deploy.

"But we are there to assist and do everything we can so that they are in a position to open the airport at the earliest opportunity"

Gatwick's runways have been shut since Wednesday evening. 

Sussex Police said it was not terror-related but a "deliberate act" of disruption using "industrial specification" drones.

Have you been affected by the disruption? Email news@theargus.co.uk