Stansted protest in Downing Street

Protesters make their view known in Downing Street

Campaigners against the expansion of Stansted Airport took their protest to London on Thursday.

The group - including local residents - waved placards at ministers as they arrived for their weekly Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street.

Protesters say expanding the Essex airport with a third runway is not economically viable, and would cause damage to the environment.

Peter Riding, who is leading the campaign, says the area would be completely transformed if the building work at the terminal went ahead.

Local Conservative councillor Jackie Sutton represents Takeley and the Canfields, which is dominated by the airport.

Change of heart

She said she is hoping it is not too late for a change of heart.

But business group, such as the East of England Development Agency, maintain that expansion would bring needed extra jobs and tourism to the region.

The agency's David Marlow told BBC Look East: "We think that expansion at Stansted will do a number of things.

"It will provide jobs for some of the areas which are in need of regeneration, area like Harlow, the Thames gateway, and areas of northern London where there is a need for additional jobs.

"In addition, it will increase the quality of jobs and opportunities for the people of the east of England through the types of new kinds of employment which will come to the region."

Strength of feeling

To cope with a predicted increase in air travel, expansion programmes are being considered for Heathrow in west London, Stansted, Gatwick in Sussex or a new £9bn airport at Cliffe in Kent.

The plans have provoked major opposition among those living in the affected areas, especially those in rural villages near airports which might be expanded.

The government White Paper on airport expansion is due out in mid-December.

It should be clear by then whether ministers have taken account of the strength of feeling in the Stansted area