Deportation protest halts flights out of Stansted Airport

Flights at Stansted were halted temporarily after protesters blocked a runway at the airport.

The campaigners, from the group End Deportations, locked themselves to a tripod on a runway that was not used for commercial flights.

The group said eight activists were taking part in an attempt to stop a "mass deportation charter flight" from leaving the Essex airport.

The aircraft was said to have contained people from Ghana and Nigeria.

A spokeswoman for the group told Sky News that at least one arrest was made and the flight was suspended as a result of the protest.

A spokesman for Stansted, a major airport just north of London, said the protest had been restricted to a remote part of the site but flights were being suspended for safety reasons.

He said it did not take place beside the passenger terminal.

The spokesman confirmed to Sky News that the protest targeted a "private charter" flight.

He said: "The runway was closed while Essex Police contained the situation. The protesters were on a remote stand, not on the passenger side.

"It was a private charter flight, which can range from anything from the rich and famous to a government charter flight."

It is understood that other flights were affected from 10pm until 11.20pm.