Passengers caught up in the Gatwick drone disruption have been warned they might not be eligible for insurance payouts despite being left out of pocket.

In echoes of the 2010 volcanic ash cloud crisis, travellers have been told to check their policies because the incident is being treated by the airlines as one of "exceptional circumstances".

On Friday night Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, urged insurers to honour claims and treat people "reasonably".

He said: "Today I have had productive discussions with the Association of British Insurers on reimbursing those passengers with insurance cover whose flights were delayed or cancelled."

Mark Shepherd, head of general insurance policy at the ABI, said: "Where customers have bought travel insurance which includes cover for disruption they will be able to claim in the usual way.

"This cover typically refunds the cost of things like missed accommodation or car hire overseas."