Campaigners from Richmond joined forces with activists from around London outside number 10 Downing Street to urge new Prime Minister Theresa May to deny Heathrow airport permission to expand.

The campaigners, who were also joined by chairman of anti-expansion group John Stewart, caught Mrs May as she left for her first Prime Minister’s Questions.

They held up a banner that said: “Theresa May, save us from a third runway!”

Mr Stewart said: “We know from her past statements that Theresa May is no fan of Heathrow expansion. We will be gathering to remind her that she now has the power to stop it.”

According to Heathrow's director of external affairs, Nigel Milton, Mrs May has recently met with Howard Davies, whose commission recommended the airport for expansion, and told him she had no major issues with giving a third runway the green light.

The Government is expected to make a decision by the end of the year.

A spokesman from Back Heathrow said despite the protest, more people living near the airport supported its expansion than were against it.

He said: "Let's remember that more than 53,000 local residents responded to a public consultation to say they backed a new runway at Heathrow while just 161 supporters of Stop Heathrow Expansion wrote to the consultation opposing it.

"The Prime Minister should listen carefully to the protesting minority but she should also listen to the vast numbers of people in west London who want to see Heathrow grow and succeed."