Television's Naked Chef Jamie Oliver has said a new airport should be built at sea rather than expand Stansted.

Mr Oliver, a member of the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign, said it was the only way to cut down on pollution and noise.

He sent a message of support to a community conference on the expansion issue at the weekend.

In a letter read out by his mother, Sally, who runs The Cricketers pub in Clavering, near Stansted, Essex, Mr Oliver said an offshore airport was the way forward.

'Not fair'

"Living near Stansted Airport we expect our fair share of noise but on this scale it just is not fair to the people of this area and nor would it be fair to the people of any area," said Mr Oliver.

"If the government is still determined to go ahead, then an offshore airport must be seriously considered," he said.

Campaigners said hundreds of homes would be destroyed - along with three ancient monuments and 64 listed buildings if the expansion of Stansted goes ahead.

A spokesman for the campaign said they had no specific site in mind for an offshore airport but that the concept should be explored.