ENVIRONMENTAL pressure groups have launched a joint plea for the Government to ditch plans for a third runway at Heathrow.

The National Trust, WWF, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Campaign for Better Transport, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace urged Ministers to rule against expanding Heathrow.

The Government is set to make its decision before the end of the year.

Ministers have said they support a third runway in principle, but only if it won't cause excessive damage to the environment.

Lord Hunt, an Environment Minister, recently admitted that London is already failing to meet EU limits for pollution linked to asthma and respiratory diseases.

The Government faces growing opposition to the proposed third runway in the House of Commons.

A motion opposing the plans has been signed by 121 MPs, including many Labour politicians representing London constituencies.

The pressure groups issued the statement as the decision draws near.

Tony Burton, Director of Strategy and External Affairs at the National Trust, said: "The National Trust has long held the view that the expansion of Heathrow would be highly detrimental to the quality of life for the hundreds of thousands of people who use Osterley Park and other precious green spaces across west London.

"We welcome the support of so many MPs and agree that alternatives to expansion have not been adequately explored or the full social, environment and economic costs established."

Shaun Spiers, Chief Executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "Further expansion of Heathrow would destroy not just the village of Sipson but the tranquillity of wide tracts of our countryside."

Stephen Joseph, Executive Director of Campaign for Better Transport, said: "The alarm bell has been rung by a large and growing number of MPs from all parties signalling the folly of expanding Heathrow.

"Rearranging deckchairs is no longer an option. Plans to expand Heathrow must be turned around and scrapped to make tackling climate change a reality and rail travel a realistic travel choice."

And John Sauven, Executive Director of Greenpeace, said: "The Heathrow decision is a test of Gordon Brown's credibility on climate change.

"We simply can't meet our emissions targets if aviation continues to grow at the rate predicted."

Related links: HACAN Clear Skies campaign to oppose a third runway.

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