A newspaper campaign to halt the proposed expansion of Luton Airport has stepped up a gear with a visit to Westminster.

Hitchin-based newspaper The Comet, handed over letters of objection from readers to Alistair Darling at the Department of Transport during a visit to London.

Reporter Sarah Tregoning was joined by MPs Peter Lilley and Oliver Heald as part of a delegation which made its presence felt at Westminster.

The visit was the latest chapter in a four-month campaign, launched after readers expressed concerns about Government plans to extend Luton’s existing runway to 3,000 metres and proposals from the airport itself to build two new runways and a rail and road connection linking Stevenage and Luton.

Editor of the Archant title, Darren Isted, said: “We have clearly struck a nerve with our readers and their response to our No, Darling campaign has been fantastic.

“The visit to Westminster and handing over of the letters from Comet readers proved very effective – it has won us much applause among the local community and the campaign has been a tribute to the organisational skills of our reporter Sarah Tregoning.”

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