A former Kent security guard who was arrested following the drone disruption that crippled Gatwick Airport has been released without charge.

Paul Gait, who was held along with his wife Elaine, used to work for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

He was responsible for monitoring the town's CCTV cameras, MailOnline reported.

If he witnessed suspicious or any anti-social behaviour, his job was to alert Kent Police.

He now works for a glazing company in Crowborough, East Sussex and lives in Crawley, five miles from the airport.

The drone incidents caused travel misery for tens of thousands of passengers hoping to get away for Christmas.

Mr Gait's boss Paul Allard was quoted by the Telegraph as saying: "He is a reliable family man who has been with me for 17 years and has never given me any problems at all.

'He may have picked up the interest in model flying from me because I've been doing it for 40 years.'

Mr Allard added: 'I also know Paul's wife Elaine and as far as I know she has no interest at all in drones or model flying.'

Mr Gait's dad, who lives in Kent and asked not to be named, told MailOnline: "It has been said eco-warriors might be behind it (the drone incidents) – but he's no eco-warrior,'

'He likes to fish and he likes his meat. Everyone is phoning me up and saying, "It can't be him. That's not Paul."

'He has never been in trouble. He had a big model helicopter but he sold that a couple of years ago. He has had small drones. Somebody has pointed the finger at him and said, "He likes to fly drones". But Paul wouldn't do something like this.'

The couple were arrested on Friday evening on suspicion of disrupting civil aviation "to endanger or likely to endanger safety of operations or persons" and were released on Sunday morning.

Sussex Police Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said: “Both people have fully co-operated with our enquiries and I am satisfied that they are no longer suspects in the drone incidents at Gatwick.

“It is important to remember that when people are arrested in an effort to make further enquiries it does not mean that they are guilty of an offence and Sussex Police would not seek to make their identity public.

“Our inquiry continues at a pace to locate those responsible for the drone incursions, and we continue to actively follow lines of investigation.

“We ask for the public’s continued support by reporting anything suspicious, contacting us with any information in relation to the drone incidents at Gatwick."

Gatwick Airport Limited has offered a £50,000 reward through Crimestoppers, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the criminal act that disrupted flights.