The airport handles about 800,000 passengers every month.

Meriden MP Caroline Spelman and Solihull MP John Taylor have written a letter to Transport Secretary Alistair Darling in response to the "rumours."

The proposal was put forward by the government for consultation in 2002.

Despite objections from hundreds of residents Ms Spelman and Mr Taylor said they had heard reports the government was due to approve the move.

Environmental consequences

"We are frankly shocked and appalled to hear the government may give the go-ahead to a counter proposal from Birmingham International Airport, for a modified version of the government's wide-spaced second runway proposal," the letter said.

"We have forwarded hundreds of letters to you from constituents against a second runway.

"The message was clear from our constituents; wide-spaced, closed-space, long or short, whatever form it takes we do not want a second runway at Birmingham International Airport.

"A second runway would have serious environmental consequences and additional congestion with increased capacity without the extra funding necessary for the transport networks to cope."

The government put forward the plans in July 2002 following a study which looked at how airports could grow to match passenger expansion.

Birmingham International Airport handles about 800,000 passengers a month.