Village spells out its views on plans to demolish homes for Heathrow expansion

Brass bands were blaring and stilt-walkers tottering about amid the crowds. It might have looked like Britain's biggest summer fete – but the thousands who descended on the village of Sipson, on the edge of west London, yesterday afternoon weren't interested in tombolas or similar attractions.

The mass gathering at the Make a Noise carnival was aimed at persuading the Government to spike plans for a third runway and a sixth terminal at nearby Heathrow airport.

About 3,000 campaigners marched to Sipson before spelling out their message by forming a giant "No" in a field, so large it would have been unmissable to passing planes. Seven hundred family homes in the village will be bulldozed to make way for the airport's expansion if plans are approved later this year, in effect wiping out the community.