A British Airways flight was forced to turn back to Gatwick for an emergency landing after a "nasty smell", compared to the stench of cannabis, filled the cabin.

Passengers complained of smelling a foul odour on the BA2552 flight to Crete shortly after take off from Gatwick on Thursday morning.

The pilot turned back as a precaution and the flight was met by fire crews when it landed 90 minutes later.

Passenger Stuart Barnes told The Sun that travellers thought the smell was just like cannabis.

Passengers were eventually put on a rescheduled flight at midday.

A BA spokeswoman said no evidence of cannabis or anybody smoking cannabis was found on board.