New demo over airport expansion

Construction work has started on Terminal Five

Two men have been arrested after protesters staged a demonstration on a bridge in west London against airport expansion.

Two men hung by ropes from a temporary construction bridge on the A3044 near Heathrow Airport, Scotland Yard said.

Three other men, who obstructed the bridge used by site traffic, left voluntarily.

The A3044 on the western side of the airport was closed for several hours causing major traffic problems in the area.

It was reopened just before 1200 GMT.

The bridge allows access to the Terminal Five construction site and machinery was unable to cross it. Airport operator BAA said other work on the site was continuing.

In October campaigners occupied a crane on the construction site for several days.

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

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