HUNDREDS of people angry at proposals for an international airport at Cliffe converged on Chatham town centre.

More than 1,000 people campaigning against plans to concrete over the Hoo peninsular and build Britain's largest airport brought the traffic to a standstill on Saturday as they staged the biggest protest so far in the anti-airport campaign.

Supporters of the No Airport at Cliffe campaign marched round the one-way centre wearing campaign T-shirts and holding banners high above their heads, chanting as they went.

The march was organised by the No Airport at Cliffe Action Group and spearheaded by Joan Goddard, whose house in St David's Way, Allhallows, is under the proposed third runway.

She said: "We are here to tell Tony Blair his plans are terminal for our communities. It stops here and we won't allow our houses to be destroyed for an airport.

"I'm really pleased so many people have come out to support us but I feel there should have been many more who it will affect here."

As the procession snaked round the town centre, people shopping stopped to shout their support and many of the drivers who were forced to stop and allow the protestors through, tooted their horns in support.

Police officers lined the route as the elderly, disabled, children and even dogs followed Mrs Goddard round the town.

Two of the marchers, Clare Bird and Sharon Jackson were protesting to save the open spaces for children. The two women offer respite care to inner city children and rely on the open spaces on the peninsula to take the children to.

Mrs Bird said: "No amount of money will make us move. If we let them do it here, it will be a green light to override the law everywhere.

"We foster children from the inner city and they love coming to Cliffe. Some who have suffered with asthma have benefited but if there is an airport there will be no respite here for them and only more pollution."

Perry Haines, from the RSPB, explained how the birdwatchers were gathering data on the area's wildlife to present to the government and demand the laws be upheld to prevent the destruction and possibly extinction of the creatures.

After the march, which began and ended in Whiffens Road car park behind The Brook Theatre, speeches were made by Joan Goddard, leader of Medway Council Rodney Chambers, Cliffe RSPB representative Mr Haines and Gareth Jones, from the campaigners in Essex.

Each vowed to fight in any way possible to kill off the airport plan. Mrs Goddard said: "We cannot allow the murder of the animals, birds and insects for the sake of bucket price flights for the business people.

"None of the money generated by the travelling people will be invested locally. It will all be in-house at the shops in the airport so it is not going to be good for the local community."