Backing for anti-airport group

People living in four counties are opposed to the airport plans

Campaigners fighting plans for the expansion of a Midlands airport say they have been deluged with messages of support.

The Wolverhampton Airport Action Group says its website has been visited by more than 12,000 people, and about 100 phone calls a day are being made to its hotline.

The airport, at Halfpenny Green, Bobbington, Staffordshire, is hoping to introduce budget flights for holidaymakers.

The latest in a series of protest meetings was held over the weekend at Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Club.

Four million passengers

Meanwhile, Sir Patrick Cormack, MP for South Staffordshire, has revealed that he has received about 3,000 letters of objection over the expansion plans.

He said no other issue had caused as many letters to be written to him in a parliamentary career spanning more than 30 years.

Wolverhampton Airport hopes to attract four million passengers within 10 years, but its management has denied aircraft would fly directly over any centres of population.

The expansion plans have been met with anger from people living in four counties - Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands.