Heathrow demonstrators sang runway-themed Christmas carols outside court as three activists answered charges over a protest at the airport .
Esme Woldren, 22, of Walmer Crescent, Brighton; William Pettifer, 26, of Mill Lane, Radford; and, Alastair Cannell, 26, of no fixed address, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday (December 23) where they all denied unlawfully blocking a tunnel contrary to the Heathrow bylaws.
They were all bailed and a date has yet to be fixed for a trial, though the matter is next due in court on January 6.
Protesters from the direct action group Plane Stupid, which is opposed to a third runway at the airport, gathered outside the court in a show of solidarity with the defendants.
The decision on whether to add the third runway will be made in the summer of 2016 following a decision to delay it by six months this month.
They unfurled a banner reading "we are in it for the long-haul" and belted out a series of runway-themed Christmas carols, with lines including "oh jingle bells expansion smells, block it all the way, oh what fun it is to be a climate elf today".
Speaking outside the court, Ms Waldron said: "We do these actions to defend the planet from harmful and unsustainable industries, and deem this a reasonable response to a failing government.
"This a government who in 2008 signed the Climate Change Act, but who continue to debate the construction of a new runway, which is completely out of the question if we are to meet our CO2 reduction targets."
The protest in question took place on November 26, when demonstrators from Plane Stupid parked a vehicle across both lanes of Heathrow's main entrance tunnel during the morning rush hour .
They locked their bodies to it and unfurled a banner quoting David Cameron's election promise "No Ifs, No Buts: No Third Runway".
A total of five people were arrested in connection with the demonstration, with the other two bailed to return to a west London police station pending further enquiries.
