"Due to a serious incident today at London Southend Airport, we regret to advise that the Airport is closed until further notice," the airport said. "All flights to and from the Airport have been cancelled while Police, emergency services and air accident investigators are attending the incident."

Travel agents said the closure of Southend airport had a minimal impact so far and hailed co-operative trade efforts to help affected clients as flights were re-routed.

One body is still yet to be recovered from the site of a plane crash at London Southend Airport, police have confirmed. Four foreign nationals, including a doctor, died when the aircraft crashed on Sunday,