Chainsaws among items seized at airport in 2024

Chainsaws, a lava lamp and a bottle of urine were among items passengers tried to take on board flights leaving East Midlands Airport in 2024.

Security teams at the Castle Donington airport said they confiscated about 300 items a month, which just would not fly with aviation rules and regulations.

Bosses at the airport, in Leicestershire, said almost all passengers - 99.8% of them - only waited up to 15 minutes at security.

But the airport has urged people not to travel with banned items, as this can cause more queues.

Other items confiscated in the past year include a bread knife and Stanley knife, a brandy bottle in the shape of a gun and bullet casings, oars, a hockey stick, gym weights, a toolbox, car oil and a car battery, and anti-pigeon spikes.

None of these are allowed under the rules set by the Civil Aviation Authority, while airlines sometimes set even stricter guidelines for flights.

With Christmas approaching, the airport has also reminded people not to try to take crackers, party poppers, fireworks and even frozen turkeys on to their flights.

The airport's head of security, Jessica Hosier, said: "Customers have an important part to play in making their journey through the airport as smooth as possible, by planning ahead and checking what is and isn't permissible in hand luggage."

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