Fancy-dress protest at Heathrow

Up to 100 protesters dressed as the prime minister are expected to join a rally to oppose the expansion of Heathrow Airport in west London.

Campaigners wearing Gordon Brown masks and ears joined other protesters in Lampton Park, Hounslow, west London.

Any expansion would include a new runway, allowing the total number of flights to increase from 480,000 at present to 605,000 by 2020.

Ministers are expected to make a decision on Heathrow in weeks.

Independent body

Rally organiser John Stewart from the campaign group HACAN said:

"All the Gordon Browns in the world - and there will be a lot of them at this protest - won't convince anybody that expansion is needed.

"It's bad for the environment and most people don't buy his line that it's needed for the health of the economy "
John Stewart, rally organiser

"It's bad for the environment and most people don't buy his line that it's needed for the health of the economy."

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats oppose the idea of a new runway, as do environmental groups, while some backbench Labour MPs are calling for a rethink.

Richmond councillors are also taking part in the protest.

"We are totally opposed to any form of expansion at Heathrow," said Richmond council leader Serge Lourie.

"The airport has reached maximum capacity."

Heathrow's owner BBA said that if a third runway was approved, then it would an accept an independent body with the power to limit flights for environmental reasons.

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