THE man who made the announcement to give Heathrow's third runway the go ahead has resigned.

Geoff Hoon, transport secretary, announced in January to give the green light to the Heathrow expansion, and has this afternoon stood down from his cabinet position.

Christine Shilling, press secretary of campaign group NoTRAG, said: "I'm delighted, he has been instrumental in giving the go ahead for the decimation of communities.

"He has attempted to brand protestors as criminals.

"I think it is good news, in terms of his role as Transport minister, he could have shown a lot more integrity, compassion, and sensivity."