An action group against plans to expand Lydd Airport has been accused of scaremongering.

The group has paid for a series of full-page adverts to appear in a local newspaper which show a jumbo jet flying on a collision course with the nuclear power station at Dungeness.

The advert has the headline "60 seconds to disaster" and urges people to "say no to Lydd runway extension". It was paid for by the Lydd Airport Action Group.

However, those who back plans for a bigger and busier airport, have slammed the advert as misleading, inaccurate and frightening.

Tim Crompton, a member of Friends of Lydd Airport, known as FLAG and also landlord of The George said: "The advert is disgusting. It's totally misleading and could not and would not happen.

"Because of the angle of the runway planes would not go directly above the power station and what has been pictured would be virtually impossible. Even if there was an accident the station is built to withstand a 707, which is almost twice the size of a 737, which would use Lydd.

"We need the airport expansion to regenerate the Romney Marsh, so that children in the area can stay and get good quality jobs. "

Another member of FLAG, Michael Walsh, a former Shepway and Lydd councillor, said: "The advert is disgraceful and we have complained.. It is scaremongering and it is frightening people.

"And even if something did go wrong the nuclear reactors are protected by the infrastructure and a plane crash would not have an impact."