Campaigners who are against a third runway at Heathrow will be holding a 'celebration' for the airport's 70th birthday on Bank Holiday Monday (May 30).
The Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN) are holding the event on the High Street in Harmondsworth, which is threatened with destruction should the new runway be given to go-ahead .
At midday, 70 red 'no third runway ' balloons will be released from the green in the village, while 738 black planes will be planted to symbolise the number of homes that will be demolished to make way for the runway.
There will also be a tour of the village and a walk of the route of the new runway, while John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington and Shadow Chancellor, will be amongst a number of attendees giving speeches at the event.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN, said: "We want to show that while we are not against Heathrow airport , we want to highlight the fact that we believe that on its 70th birthday it shouldn't grow anymore because of its downsides.
"These include not only the destruction of homes but also noise over a wide area and air polution."
Campaigners are also being encouraged to bring gifts for Heathrow, whose official birthday is the next day, and so far HACAN have received a Mr Noisy Mr Men book, a Matchbox digger and a blank cheque for Heathrow.
Mr Stewart added: "I've been given a Mr Noisy book and a blank cheque for Heathrow because the person believes that the whole thing will be so expensive that they'll need to be given a blank cheque by the government.
"I think everyone will bring something and if they do the next day we'll probably go down to BAA's headquarters which is just down the road from Harmondsworth and deliver all the gifts to them."
