TELEVISION personality Bill Oddie has joined the growing campaign to protect the village of Cliffe, near Strood, from the planned international airport.

He said: "I'm absolutely appalled by this preposterous threat to build an airport across Cliffe RSPB reserve and the surrounding area, destroying our precious, priceless North Kent marshes for ever. This tragedy cannot be allowed to happen to our national heritage."

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling will be announcing his preferred options for London's fourth airport on July 22. A four-runway airport at Cliffe is expected to be one of four options.

In a letter to Mr Darling, the RSPB's chief executive, Graham Wynne, said: "We believe that the Government should re-examine the economic and environmental case for a new airport at Cliffe very carefully before proposing this as a firm option."