Protesters fighting the building of a third runway at Heathrow Airport have travelled along the route of the expected flight path, to put residents on "red alert" about the plans.

The campaigners drove an open-top bus from London's West End through areas which could be affected by the proposals to Windsor in Berkshire on Saturday.

Campaigners, MPs and local politicians were on board the bus, which made three stops for rallies along the route.

Recorded aircraft noise was played through loudspeakers to draw attention to the disturbance which campaigners fear they will be subjected.

Angry

The protest was against the government's proposed third, short, runway at the west London airport.

An open-top bus followed the flight path

The plan is one of a number being considered to increase capacity at airports across the country, to deal with a predicted rise in passengers in coming years.

Angry that the government has not clarified the route of the new flight path, campaigners commissioned a professional pilot to draw up their own detailed map.

They say homes in Heston, Brentford, north Chiswick, Hammersmith and Kensington in west London and Datchet and parts of Maidenhead and Windsor in Berkshire will be affected.

'Red alert'

Anti-noise group Hacan ClearSkies chairman John Stewart said hundreds of people had joined the protest at different stages along the route.

He said: "The department (for transport) has only admitted that 150,000 people will be affected by the new flight path.

"Many of these people could have a plane flying over their home every 90 seconds.

"We hope this bus ride will put people on red alert."

A final decision on where new runways will be built is expected in spring 2003.