The scrapping of aircraft at the former Manston airport site has been halted by the Environment Agency.

The move follows a complaint by airport campaigners.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "Our officers attended Manston on Monday and confirmed that the breaking of aircraft was being carried out at the site.

"The activity was being carried out without an environmental permit, so we requested that no further activity takes place.

"Our officers are carrying out an investigation, and will monitor activity at the site closely.”

Save Manston Airport campaigners believe the former airport is no longer licensed to carry out the dismantling of two 747 jumbo jets and a DC8, and they claim the work should not be carried out without a fire station on site.

Group chairman Dr Beau Webber alerted the Environment Agency to the work being carried out. He fears hydraulic fluid from the planes could enter the Thanet aquifer and cause environmental harm.

A JCB arrived at the airport site on Saturday and began breaking a 747 close to the former passenger terminal.

Dr Webber said: “Manston is no longer an airport according to the new owners.

“The former operators had permission to break two aircraft a year, however a license to break aircraft is not transferable and a different company is now in possession of the airport.

“They have no aircraft licences because Manston Skyport surrendered them.”

The owners of the airport were asked to comment but have not responded.