THE RSPB's director of conservation has added his weight to the campaign, warning of the terrible effects it would have on North Kent's bird population.

In a speech to the Air Transport of Tomorrow conference in London last Wednesday, Dr Mark Avery spelled out the area of protected habitat for important migratory and rare birds that would be devastated by an airport.

This includes the RSPB reserve on the Island, which was among the natural heritage areas Dr Avery hoped would remain sacrosanct.

Campaigners from the Isle of Sheppey Action Group have also highlighted the potential impact on birds and wildlife.

In a covering letter to a petition sent to the Department of Transport, they said: "If an airport is built at Cliffe it will be an environmental catastrophic and irreparable disaster to all the wildlife in North Kent.

"We have RSPB sanctuaries and protected woodland at Cliffe and Sheppey where millions of birds are protected.

"It is also the main flight path for feeding and resting grounds for billions of birds to and from migration and will be a danger to low flying aircraft."