Climate campaigners set up camp at Heathrow

Climate change campaigners began setting up camp yesterday ahead of protests at Britain's Heathrow airport, which may spell chaos for summer travellers.

The protesters erected marquees and installed toilets near London's Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports, two days ahead of the start of expected protests.

They say they have "legally occupied" the site, which is on the route of a proposed third runway at Heathrow and is around 800 metres from the headquarters of airport operator BAA, owned by Spanish construction and services group Ferrovial.

A week-long "climate action" camp is due to be staged from Tuesday to demonstrate against climate change and the proposed new runway.

There will be a day of action next Sunday, although what form it will take will not be decided until the campaigners have been on the camp for the first few days, a spokesman told BBC Television.

A similar camp last year close to the Drax power station in Yorkshire by 400 protesters led to 40 arrests.