THOUSANDS of people took to the streets of West London last Saturday in a protest against plans to build a third runway at Heathrow.

The march wound its way along the intended route of the proposed runway and ended with a rally in Harmondsworth where local politicans and community leaders addressed the large crowds.

The march and rally had been organised jointly by the No Third Runway Action Group, HACAN ClearSkies and West London Friends of the Earth.

John Stewart, chairman of HACAN ClearSkies, said: "This was an act of defiance by the local community. The message to the Government was quite clear: A Third Runway; No Way."

Speaking at the rally were John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, John Randall, Conservative MP for Uxbridge, Ann Keen, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth, Dominic Grieve, Conservative MP for Beaconsfield, Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP for London, Susan Kramer, Liberal Democrat candidate at the last Mayoral elections and Alan Francis, transport spokesperson for the Green Party.

Messages of support were received from Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park and Caroline Lucas, Green MEP for South-East England. There were also speakers from the local churches, Friends of the Earth, the No Third Runway Campaign and HACAN ClearSkies.