Extra security staff have been drafted in as Gatwick Airport braces for one of its busiest weekends on record this bank holiday.

Almost 500,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport.

British Airways has taken on 170 more security officers to cope with the influx, while police and other emergency services staff are working extra shifts.

The majority of travellers will be heading to holiday hotspots including Malaga, Parma and Ibiza.

The news has fuelled fears the transport infrastructure will not be able to cope with the mass holiday exodus.

Rail chiefs have announced the closure of large sections of the country's network.

Although the South East is unlikely to be affected, thousands more vehicles could be forced on to the roads. Sections of the M23 are likely to be jammed at times.

A Gatwick Airport spokesman said: "Our procedures and process are well rehearsed and we are used to handling so many passengers. We have made sure we will be well staffed.

"At the moment, the train lines into Gatwick look okay but we would advise passengers to arrive in plenty of time and to listen out for travel advice."