Legally binding measures to protect runway alternation at Heathrow must be introduced, regardless of whether a third runway gets the go ahead.

That was the demand from Ruth Cadbury, Labour's candidate for Brentford and Isleworth, as she made her submission this week to the Airports Commission, a government department which examines the need for additional UK airport capacity.

The Brentford councillor restated her opposition to any expansion at the airport, saying there was already an 'unacceptable noise climate'.

She called for noise levels to get no worse than at present and for an insulation package equivalent to that for other major airports.

She also demanded more research into the impact of expansion on local air pollution levels, which already breach EU limits, and said Heathrow should fund improvements to public transport to and from the airport.

"The commission's decision will affect us all for generations to come. My submission continues my fight to oppose any expansion at Heathrow," she said.

The commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, is weighing up rival schemes for an extra runway at Heathrow, an extension to the northern runway and a second runway at Gatwick. It is due to make its final recommendations this summer.

Heathrow this week announced it would pay for noise insulation at some 160,000 homes under its flight paths, at a cost of up to £700 million, should it get a third runway.

The airport has claimed fewer people would be subjected to noise even if a new runway is built, due to quieter planes, though campaigners have questioned its figures.

Should a third runway get the go-ahead the airport has promised to keep some form of runway alternation, providing guaranteed respite periods for residents.

This would not be possible with a longer northern runway, operating as two separate runways, as proposed by Heathrow Hub.

Ms Cadbury is running against Conservative incumbent Mary Macleod for the Brentford and Isleworth constituency in May's general election.