Letter: Night noise

Sir: I am astonished at the finding of BAA's "expert" (report, 15 September) that people's sleep is not affected by night flights into Heathrow.

I live in Herne Hill, London, some 16 miles from Heathrow. My household is almost daily awoken by aircraft on their way to Heathrow around 6am, already flying so low that the aircraft numbers can often be identified. The volume of traffic has already become a real public nuisance.

Terminal 5 should not be built. Heathrow is a mess as it is; it is a horrible airport to use. If the majority of flight users are on transfers, then these could be accomplished at an airport well away from the centre of population in London.

GRAHAM FEAKINS

London SE24