Norman Mead said he will challenge arguments for Stansted expansion

Now the group has confirmed it is planning to oppose every step of the project despite this set back.

The first meeting of the group, since the government gave the go ahead for the new runway in December, was held on Thursday night.

The Stop Stansted Expansion group said they would take their fight to the UK and European courts.

Over 700 concerned residents from Essex and beyond packed a school hall in Stansted Mountfitchet to plan their next steps.

The chair of the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign Norman Mead told the audience that "the gloves are now off".

"We will be relentless in our campaign. Every argument in the book will be brought to bear on everything the BAA will propose," he said.

"That means challenging every application or inquiry. We'll be ready with everything we've got," he said.