Claims that a riot nearly erupted on a plane after delays kept passengers on board for seven hours have been dismissed by the airline.

Police had to be called on to the Cuba-bound Virgin Atlantic flight at Gatwick yesterday amid fears furious passengers would riot, according to the Daily Mirror.

The flight, due to take off at 9.30am on Thursday, was delayed for seven hours because of technical problems and eventually, at 4pm, postponed until the following day. Passengers were put up in a hotel overnight.

The 352 passengers were kept on board in the hope problems could be solved and the plane could leave.

Claims of a near-riot and police boarding the plane were denied by Virgin Atlantic.

A spokesman confirmed there was a seven-hour delay but said: "Police didn't get on board the plane.

"There was no doubt some passengers would have been frustrated. That is going to happen in that situation but based on the conversations I have had with the crew on board there was no near-riot."

Bernie Murphy, a civilian supervisor in Sussex Police's control centre, said: "We know nothing about the incident."

The Virgin spokesman said: "We are deeply apologetic and obviously very sorry to any passengers for any inconvenience caused by the delay. There had been a technical fault with the plane and we tried to fix it. We could not do it in time before the crew ran out of their legal operating hours so then we put people in a hotel for the night."

He said after the initial fault was spotted, a problem was identified with one of the plane's tyres, causing a further delay.

He said: "We will never let a plane go out unless it is 100 per cent safe."

He claimed passengers on board Flight 63 had been kept informed about the situation and "fed and watered".

But passenger Philip Robinson, 53, from Maidenhead, Berkshire, told the newspaper: "We were told police were coming on in case we started a riot.

"No one knew what was happening. Because of security we couldn't take drinks on board and were only given two glasses of water. No one even had any food."

Another traveller Peter Sidebottom, 57, said: "Tensions were rising and one woman was abusing the staff. Another passenger said if she didn't shut up she'd punch her teeth in."