Plans by Gatwick airport for a second runway would blight homes in west Kent and lead to intolerable noise and disruption, according to a Kent MP.

The airport today announced it wanted to build a second runway to address the shortage of aviation capacity in the south east.

In its formal submission to the Davies Commission, the government appointed task force considering ways to improve capacity in the region, the airport states a new runway was the best option.

It comes after Mayor of London Boris Johnson signalled his support for a new airport on the Isle of Grain rather than his floating island airport scheme for the Thames Estuary.

Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said there was a "robust and compelling case" for a second runway, which has also been backed by Kent County Council.

Mr Wingate said it could be privately financed and was "the best and most deliverable solution".

"Our evidence shows clearly that an additional runway at Gatwick would best serve the needs of all passengers, and give certainty to airlines, communities and businesses. It would deliver the connectivity the UK needs with lower environmental impacts, whilst spreading the economic benefits."

But the proposals have drawn short shrift from Tonbridge and Malling MP Sir John Stanley, who renewed his long-standing opposition to the expansion at Gatwick.

He said: "I am totally opposed to any expansion at Gatwick. My constituents living nearby would face intolerable noise and disruption."

There were "technical issues", which meant the option of a second runway would make it less commercially attractive, even if they could be overcome, he added.

"A second runway parallel to the existing one would be too close. I believe there are better solutions to the problems of the south east.

"This would not produce significant job prospects in my constituency, most of whom either work locally or commute to London."

He would not be drawn on whether or not he endorsed the Mayor of London's idea, saying he had not made a full appraisal of the scheme but the "off shore" approach had successfully been adopted by other countries.

In its formal response to the Davies Commission, Kent County Council's own document says: "Capacity growth at Gatwick represents a more acceptable long-term solution than expansion at Heathrow, due to the significantly lower number of people that would be overflown by arriving and departing aircraft, the relatively good rail and road access enjoyed by Gatwick and the huge economic benefits this solution would bring to deprived communities in Kent, Sussex and south London."