THE couple accused of the drones chaos at Gatwick say they feel they have been forced out of their home.

Innocent window fitter Paul Gait and his partner Elaine Kirk were quizzed by the police for 36 hours after nearly three days of flight cancellations at the airport before Christmas.

But the Crawley couple were released without charge by the police and told they would face no further action.

Police had revealed details of their ages, and national newspapers such as the Daily Mail put them on the front page, asking if they were the “morons” who had “ruined Christmas”.

The couple spoke to the Daily Star on Sunday about their ordeal and said they have barely been able to leave their homes.

Paul, 47, said: “I don’t want to live here any more. I just want out. I’m not in a good place to be fair.

“I’m off work, I have been signed off. It has affected me in a massive way. It has been difficult.

“Christmas was s***. I haven’t been out for two weeks. I haven’t got any intention of going out at the moment.”

Sussex Police came under fire for its handling of the investigation after Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley conceded it was possible that there had been no drones.

But hours later the force later issued a statement saying there had been lots of sightings, and there was a damaged drone near the airport perimeter that was being probed by forensics officers for clues.

It was also reported that many of the reported sightings may have been police drones which were deployed to look for clues.

Chief Constable Giles York admitted some activity may have been the force’s own surveillance aircrafts.

The army was called in to deploy anti-drones technology at Gatwick and at Heathrow in the aftermath of the chaos, and both airports are now investing in the technology.

Gatwick has offered a £50,000 reward for information given on those who caused the fiasco which affected some 120,000 passengers.

Details should be given to CrimeStoppers.

People can report information anonymously to the charity on 0800 555111.