People in Congresbury fear more noise

The airport is currently allowed a maximum of two million passengers a year.

"We have used the quota in full over the last two or three years and if we continue to grow we need to increase it," said Mr Davies.

He said disruption from flights after midnight would be minimal.

"Aircraft have got a lot quieter over the last 10 years and our research shows the impact of night flights has reduced quite considerably."

Extra jobs

The airport's main users at night are the Royal Mail, which has flights to Liverpool and Scotland, and charter operators.

Most charter flights in the early hours are arrivals, approaching over less-populated areas, said Mr Davies.

You get a plane come across and you are just getting to sleep, and suddenly you are woken up by this roaring noise

Villager in Cleeve

In Congresbury, a few miles from the airport at Lulsgate, people have differing views.

Vicky Wheeler told BBC Radio Bristol: "A lot of us that live here tend to get used to the noise, but I would feel quite strongly if there were plans to increase flights by any dramatic amount.

"It's not a thing I would welcome, never mind all the extra jobs that they talk about."

One villager in Cleeve, which is nearer the airport, said an increase would be bad news.

"At two in the morning, you get a plane come across and you are just getting to sleep, and suddenly you are woken up by this roaring noise."

The airport is staging a public consultation and must negotiate with North Somerset Council to increase its quota of passengers.