IN THE fight against expansion at Heathrow Airport the two campaign groups most familiar to Hillingdon residents are NoTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group) and HACAN.

Both today issued statements slamming the government's decision to approve development of a third runway and vowed to continue the campaign until the bitter end.

Christine Shilling, NoTRAG Press Secretary said: "It's to be full steam ahead for the construction industry then - adding capacity equivalent to the size of Gatwick on to the rapacious Heathrow Airport."

NoTRAG Chairwoman Geraldine Nicholson added: "The Government has not listened to the views of the people; once again it is siding with big business. Our support has come from all quarters and continues to grow every day; this decision will only intensify the determination of the opposition to expansion at Heathrow."

"NoTRAG feels when the rights of the aviation industry are more important than human health and take away our rights to breathe clean air and get a good night's sleep then the political process has failed.

"And when passengers' rights are seen as more important than the rights of ordinary working people to live in communities of their choice in homes they've paid for this is a breeding ground for civil unrest."

Meanwhile HACAN has condemned the Government's decision to give the green light as 'the last gasp of the dinosaurs.'

Chairman John Stewart said of today's decision: "We believe we have won the environmental, social and economic arguments against expansion.

"There will be fury at this decision which flies in the face of the facts.

"But it will mean that campaigners will re-double their efforts to stop expansion.

"People will fight the Government in the courts, in their communities, in the town halls and, if necessary, on the tarmac of Heathrow Airport. All the warm words in the world about high-speed rail and environmental safeguards will not hide the fact that the Government has decided to give the green light to expansion.

"The plain fact remains that, if Labour loses the next General Election, this expansion will not take place. Despite this decision, campaigners are still confident of ultimate victory.

"The decision been taken by two dinosaurs, Gordon Brown and Geoff Hoon, in collusion with the aviation industry. We are planning for life beyond the dinosaurs.

"Later this year, for example, we hope to stage an event on high-speed rail."

Both HACAN and NoTRAG along with the local authorities, will be consulting their lawyers with a view to mounting a legal challenge in light of the Government's decision.