Heathrow protest: Climate change activists cause traffic chaos by blocking tunnel into airport

Climate change activists have blocked the entrance into Heathrow Airport on 26 November, in protest at the proposed third runway extension, causing a major traffic jam leading into the UK's biggest airport. Three members of the activist group Plane Stupid have parked a vehicle across both lanes of the entrance tunnel.

A banner has also be unfurled baring David Cameron's promise of "No ifs. No buts. No third runway". The demonstration is currently causing havoc around the central terminal area and terminals 2 & 3 at Heathrow. An airport spokesperson said: "Police are now on site but please allow extra time getting to the airport today."

Plane Stupid held a similar demonstration on 13 July, causing 22 flights to be cancelled and hundreds more delayed. Police confirm five people have already been arrested during the latest demonstration.

Plane Stupid spokesperson Cameron Kaye said, "Airport expansion would wreck the legally binding Climate Change Act, risking wiping out 55% of species this century and displacing 75 million more people from their homes by 2035. If aviation growth isn't reduced, by 2037 aviation alone could emit all of the carbon it's safe for the UK to emit. The government needs to choose: build new runways or stop climate chaos: it's that simple."

Neil Keveren, a builder whose village, Harmondsworth, would be bulldozed for the third runway, added: "No one wants to do this. They feel they have to. People feel they have no choice. After we campaigned for years, David Cameron was elected promising 'no ifs, no buts: no third runway."

"In 2010 the High Court ruled third runway plans 'untenable in law and common sense' because they breached the Climate Change Act. Now Cameron might just build it anyway. We have tried every other option. We have been forced to be disobedient just to be heard. To save our homes and our planet."