Business leaders from the South West are holding a conference to discuss plans for a major airport in the region.

They want to reach an agreement about where to base the airport which would bring millions of pounds in new investment to the area.

Possible locations include Exeter or Bristol - which already have small airports - or the South Hams, near Plymouth.

The government will release its crucial White Paper on aviation later this year - and it is asking business leaders to decide on the way forward.

We are not making a good enough fist of our airports at the moment Tim Jones, Devon and Cornwall Business Council

The conference, led by the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, will hear from the Department of Transport and the Regional Development Agency.

It will also be attended by Devon County Council, owners of Exeter airport, and the company behind the new airport proposal for the South Hams, Sutton Holdings.

Tim Jones, from the business council, says the South West's current airports are not attracting investment or enough travellers.

He said: "About two thirds of travellers from South West go outside the region, to Heathrow and elsewhere, for their travel.

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Will airport plans take off? I would quite happily drive to Exeter if scheduled flights were available Andrew, South Hams

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"We are not making a good enough fist of our airports at the moment and we need to get a grip on it."

'Half-baked idea'

But other groups like the Exeter Chamber of Commerce want the focus to be on Exeter Airport.

Brian Thornton from the chamber says a new airport in the South Hams would have dire economic consequences.

He said: "I just hope that we get a quick resolution that it is a half-baked idea and we do not progress it any further.

"We need to concentrate on making Exeter the main regional airport, which of course it already is."