A TRIAL flight has taken place at Kent's Lydd Airport to demonstrate the impact controversial proposals for its expansion would have on the area.

The airport’s owners want to extend the runway and build a new terminal building, so that up to 500,000 people a year can fly in and out on commercial passenger jets.

Supporters of the expansion say it will boost the area’s economy by providing thousands of jobs, but opponents say it will make life unbearable for people living near it, and wreck the Marsh’s environment.

On Saturday, a Beoing 737 aircraft, similar to those that would fly regularly to and from Lydd if the plans are realised, performed a series take-offs, landings, and missed landings at the airport.

A crowd of around 150 people gathered at the airport to watch, with applause breaking out in the public gallery as the plane landed.

Tim Crompton, from the Friends of Lydd Airport Group (FLAG), said: "There’s a lot of kids in the area who need jobs, and this will bring them good quality, year round employment."

Under a mile away in Dunes Road, Greatstone, beneath the flight-path of the landing plane, 100 demonstators and residents waited to see how low it would fly and how noisy it would be.

Colin Brown said: "I’ve lived in Romney Marsh for 40 years and 14 years in Dunes Road. I’ve always known the airport’s there and I’ve got no problem as it is.

"But with this trial both me and my neighbour measured the noise at over 90 decibels. If you were exposed to that sort of noise level at work you would have to wear ear defenders."

Dick Matra, also of Dunes road, called for the issue to be decided by a referendum of people in the area.

FULL STORY IN THURSDAY'S KENTISH EXPRESS