Darling told to clarify runway plan

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling is today under pressure to reveal crucial details of his plans to build new runways at Stansted and Heathrow.

Airlines, City financiers and anti-expansion campaigners are calling for "clarity" on two crucial parts of his plan: how Stansted will be funded and how limits on pollution at Heathrow will be decided.

Airports operator BAA is to be asked to reveal its plans for the two airports as soon as possible in a move which would end fears of years of planning blight.

Mr Darling yesterday unveiled the most radical expansion plans ever for Britain's airports - but critics claimed it was a "fudge", promising new capacity long after he was out of office, and avoided making the most difficult decisions now.

The proposals mean Stansted will gain a second runway by 2012, while Heathrow will gain a third once it can be sure it will not exceed strict European Union pollution limits.