Residents in south Leicestershire are campaigning against plans to build a massive airport which would put their homes under a flightpath.

People affected by the plan for a Midlands International Airport have already set up action groups with the backing of MPs and several local councils.

Three hundred people also turned up at a meeting in Rugby on Thursday which was aired live on Radio WM.

Earlier this week villagers in Broughton Astley in south Leicestershire held a meeting to form an action group opposing the plan.

Extra runways

The two-runway airport would be sited near the A45 and M6 between Coventry and Rugby.

Areas in Leicestershire affected by the runways would include Hinckley and Bosworth and Blaby and Harborough.

Judy Leader, from Broughton Astley said: "Many towns and villages in South Leicestershire will be affected by noise and chemical pollution, not to mention the huge urbanisation of a very large area."

A report into the proposed airport has been drawn up by Warwickshire County Council.

The full findings will be presented on Monday but the draft report says the plans would lead to overheating of the local economy and a need for an additional 15,000 homes.

The proposal is part of a wider plan to increase air capacity across the UK because of the expected rise in air travel.

Alternative plans for the Midlands could see extra runways added at Birmingham and East Midlands airports.