Liquid restrictions at UK airports

Passengers travelling through UK hubs such as Heathrow Airport will still face restrictions on carrying liquids onboard flights, it has been reported.

The Department for Transport announced the continuation of the security measures despite a jury in a major terrorism trial failing to find any conspiracy to target transatlantic aircraft.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We base our rules on the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre's latest assessment, the current national threat level remains at 'severe' which is defined as an attack is highly likely.

"The court case has proven that a generic capability exists to create liquid bombs from domestic items."

Last month, officials at Newcastle Airport were concerned that passengers were not fully aware of the restrictions in place because security employees were spending ten man-hours a day confiscating up to 400 litres of liquids.

Wendy Dawley, spokesperson for Newcastle Airport, said: "The most commonly confiscated items are bottles of pop, water, suntan lotion, perfume, shampoo and toothpaste. But items with a much higher monetary value are also being found in hand luggage."