Children take Stansted protest to London

Children presented their petition to Downing Street

Up to 200 children are taking part in a protest walk in London against proposals to expand Stansted Airport.

On Wednesday, escorted by about 100 adults, they are walking from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street to present a petition signed by youngsters opposed to the plans.

The children will also hand over a collection of photographs of villages, countryside and places of interest which it's claimed will disappear or be blighted by any further development.

The Government has proposed building up to three extra runways at the Essex airport.

Increase capacity

The plan is one of a number being considered to increase capacity at airports across the country to deal with predicted increases in passenger numbers.

Last month 2,000 people took part in a mass ramble in countryside surrounding the airport as part of the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign.

Campaigners claim if the development goes ahead Stansted will be twice the size of Heathrow Airport.