Protesters in flight path march

MPs were among the protesters

Demonstrators have marched on the London headquarters of the air traffic control service in protest against proposed changes to flight paths.

The rally and march was held on the same day as consultation on plans to change airline paths over London and South East England came to an end.

National Air Traffic Services (Nats) said the move would cut the number of people affected by noise by 20%.

But campaigners said 500,000 people will be affected by the change.

Airports including Heathrow, Stansted, Luton and London City may be affected.

The new flight paths could be in place by spring 2009 if the Civil Aviation Authority gives Nats the go-ahead.

'Aggressive plans'

People in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, the Chilterns, Luton, Hertfordshire, north-west London and east London were consulted.

John Stewart, the chairman of the AirportWatch group, said: "The only reason Nats is proposing these changes is to create more airspace to cater for the government's aggressive plans to expand aviation."

Nats said the plans were expected to reduce by 20% the number of people affected by noise from departing aircraft flying below 4,000ft (1,220m).

The company also said that re-routing aircraft would enable them to avoid flying over as many towns and villages as possible.

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Half a million homes will soon be blighted by aircraft noise when flight paths to and from the capital's airports are changed, according to campaigners.

Jane Johnston, from Nats, said: "This is one of the most complex areas of air space in the world.

"There are obviously a lot of competing demands and we have done our best to address the different expectations."

Conservative MPs David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) and Richard Spring (West Suffolk) were among those in the rally on the South Bank of the Thames.

More than 50 campaigners then marched over the river to hand in a letter at Nats' headquarters.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England is concerned the plans will mean planes being re-routed over areas of natural beauty. Bedfordshire County Council is also strongly opposed to the plans.