Two people who were held over the drone disruption at London's Gatwick Airport have been released without charge.

In a statement, Britain's Sussex Police said the man and woman arrested were no longer suspects following the widespread disruption of flights through the illegal use of drones.

The disruption began at around 9.00pm on Wednesday and flight schedules are still returning to normal.

The closure of the airport disrupted around 1,000 flights and ruined the travel plans of more than 140,000 people.

Gatwick Airport is now offering stg£50,000 (€55,550) reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

A British Airways plane comes into land at Gatwick Airport which had been closed after drones were spotted over the airfield Wednesday night and throughout Thursday | Image: John Stillwell/PA Wire/PA Images

Sussex Police Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said: "Both people have fully co-operated with our enquiries and I am satisfied that they are no longer suspects in the drone incidents at Gatwick.

"It is important to remember that when people are arrested in an effort to make further enquiries it does not mean that they are guilty of an offence and Sussex Police would not seek to make their identity public.

"Our inquiry continues at a pace to locate those responsible for the drone incursions, and we continue to actively follow lines of investigation.

"We ask for the public's continued support by reporting anything suspicious, contacting us with any information in relation to the drone incidents at Gatwick."

Police were earlier searching a home in town of Crawley.

Crawley is around five miles from the airport, which is Britain's second busiest and serves more than 43 million passengers a year.

A Gatwick spokesman said: "Broadly, things are going in the right direction. By the end of the weekend, things should be back to normal."

 A police officer on duty outside a home in Crawley, West Sussex, England which has been searched in connection with the drone incident at Gatwick Airport | Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/PA Images

It comes amid criticism of Britain's Transport Minister Chris Grayling.

He has been accused of "dither and delay" over measures to tighten laws on drones there.

UK Labour's transport secretary Andy McDonald has called for an independent inquiry into the disruption.

He said: "The government was repeatedly warned about the risks posed by drones to aviation but failed to act.

"The delay in bringing forward legislation is indicative of this government's failure to concentrate on the day-to-day business in front of them. They have taken their eye off the ball.

"The scale of disruption is unacceptable and it demands that we find out how this was allowed to happen, which is why Labour is calling for an independent inquiry."

On Friday, military equipment was used to prevent further drone disruption.

It is also believed that the airport is using an Israeli-developed Drone Dome system, which can detect drones using radar.

It can also jam communications between the drone and its operator, enabling authorities to take control of and land the device.