Jackiey Budden caused a serious terror alert at London’s Gatwick airport recently by announcing at a check-in desk “I have a gun.”

A terrified check-in assistant received the reply from Ms Budden after innocently asking her if she had anything dangerous in her bags. Ms Budden was then strip searched and questioned for 45 minutes.

A Thomson spokesperson whose flight to Tenerife Ms Budden was trying to board commented “It was total chaos” and admitted it had to work hard to convince the pilot to let Ms Budden onto the flight.

A Gatwick spokesperson said “Joking about bombs and guns is the one thing you don’t do at an airport in the current climate.”

Police spoke sternly to Ms Budden about the repercussions of her comment as she flew out alone on a much needed sunshine break following the death of her daughter; Jade Goody on Mother’s Day.