Heathrow neighbours to be given protest training

Hundreds of residents furious at plans to expand Heathrow are set to attend militant training camps aimed at bringing severe disruption to the airport.

Hardcore activists have enlisted the residents from some of west London's wealthiest boroughs for direct action against proposals to increase flights.

They said today that they were prepared to be arrested in a new wave of non-violent "attacks" on the airport which could culminate in an invasion of Heathrow's runways.

The Government wants to expand capacity by adding a third runway and allowing planes to take off and land on the same runway, increasing the number of flights from 480,000 to 702,000 a year. The training camps and a new series of protests were agreed at a meeting organised by anti-Heathrow lobby group Hacan ClearSkies, which was also attended by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Plane Stupid.

Residents claim their views on the expansion have been ignored by the Government and airport operator BAA.

Protesters will be taught to chain themselves to BAA's headquarters, climb security fences and organise flashmobs, and will be told what to do if arrested.

There has been a series of high-profile anti-Heathrow demonstrations including last year's "climate camp" where hundreds of protesters descended on Heathrow - although the new campaign is separate from that event.

In March, scores of flashmobbers attempted to disrupt Terminal 5's opening by swamping the new concourse wearing red T-shirts with the slogan Stop Airport Expansion. Their efforts were overshadowed by the chaos which engulfed the airport on the day as the new terminal went into meltdown.

The training camps will be held in September but direct action protests will be carried out only if Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly backs the expansion plans. Her announcement is due before the end of the year.

Ms Kelly's staff are analysing the 70,000 responses to a three-month public consultation which ended in February. The consultation was widely criticised as a "sham" for missing out thousands of residents affected by extra planes.

Hacan's chairman John Stewart warned of further action by activists and residents, which could culminate in an invasion of the runway. He said: "There was a palpable sense of anger. They have done the conventional things like marches, demonstrations and public inquiries and still the decision is against them. Maybe the Government will only listen if there is a threat of direct action. People feel they have nothing to lose even if it does mean being arrested, even residents of west London, many of them grey-haired, middle-aged ladies."

A BAA spokesman said: "Whilst BAA respects people's right to protest lawfully, direct action on the airport is extremely irresponsible, dangerous and illegal."