A "small number of protesters" were arrested and removed, an airport spokesman said, adding that the UK's second-busiest airport was operating normally.

Just Stop Oil said seven protesters were involved in the disruption, with a video on the group's social media showing activists sitting on the floor blocking the entrance to the departure gates.

Passengers appeared to step over the protesters to get past them.

Last week, several climate pressure groups demanding governments to sign an international treaty phasing out oil, coal and gas extraction and use by the end of the decade staged protests at airports.

Ten JSO supporters were arrested for planning to disrupt Heathrow Airport, with protests taking place in Germany, Norway, Finland, Spain, Switzerland and Austria.

Heathrow and Gatwick airports were issued High Court injunctions to stop environmental activists from entering their grounds.

The protests, planned during summer travel season, are organised by climate groups from 10 countries part of the "Oil Kills" coalition.