THE LEADER of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has threatened 'vigorous legal action' against Heathrow should the all-clear be given for expansion.

Cllr Simon Dudley objected to claims that the airport would 'ban' night flights and reduce congestion, if a third runway were approved.

The Berkshire authority has joined forces with three London councils in protest at the 'feeble emotional bribe.'

"This desperate final roll of the dice would mean even greater misery for residents in the Royal Borough," said Cllr Dudley.

"We stand ready with our three local authority partners to launch a vigorous legal action against any expansion of Heathrow."

Plans were published on Friday (September 30) to introduce 25,000 extra flights from the London hub during the construction of a third runway.

Heathrow's operator also argued that an imposed vehicle emissions charge would reduce congestion in the local area and an extended schedule from 5.30am would be an improvement on the current misery caused by night flights.

But Cllr Dudley said: "The environmental, health, financial and competition weaknesses of Heathrow's plans cannot be dressed up in some post-Brexit cloak of subterfuge and spin."

The other councils involved in the potential lawsuit are Hillingdon, Richmond and Wandsworth.

Lord True, leader of Richmond Council, accused Heathrow of making woolly commitments on which it could not deliver.

He said: "Yet again this is another feeble emotional bribe from Heathrow.

"The bottom line is that 25,000 flights will still damage the environment and cause much distress to millions of people."