Chaos at Heathrow as activists block a main access tunnel during morning rush-hour in protest over proposals for a third runway

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Five people have been arrested and travellers are being urged to allow longer for their journey to Heathrow today after protesters blocked one of the main roads in and out of the airport at rush-hour.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed two vehicles had been seized and five individuals arrested after climate change activists blocked the inbound tunnel to Heathrow in a protest against a third runway.

Several members of campaign group 'Plane Stupid' parked a large white van across the lanes of the main road into the London airport and chained themselves to it at about 7.40am.

They displayed a banner with the message: 'No ifs, no buts: no third runway.'

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Members of campaign group 'Plane Stupid' parked a white van across the lanes of the main road into Heathrow Airport and chained themselves to it, while others laid on the floor in a protest against airport expansion today

The campaigners displayed a banner on their white van with the message: 'No ifs, no buts: no third runway'

Met Police confirmed two vehicles had been seized and five people arrested during the protest against a third runway this morning. Pictured: Lengthy traffic jams outside the London airport caused by the demonstration

No flights have yet been delayed or disrupted as a result of the protest but it has caused major traffic chaos at Europe's busiest airport and travellers have been urged to allow more time for their journeys this morning

Video by: Ian Stopher 

Demonstrators also laid on the road to prevent people picking up friends and family members or dropping them off for holidays or business trips as they protested against airport expansion.

No flights have yet been delayed or disrupted as a result of the protest but it has caused traffic chaos at Europe's busiest airport and travellers have been urged to allow more time for their journeys today.

Motorists are facing traffic delays as the barricaded road is the one of the main routes in and out of the airport, and there have been reports of traffic jams already backing up for several miles, back to the M4.

A spokesman from the Metropolitan Police confirmed the protest remained ongoing and that they were dealing with a 'significant disturbance'.

They added: 'Officers are currently dealing with a protest near the inbound tunnel of Heathrow airport.

'They were called at 07:42hrs on Thursday, 26 November. Five arrests have been made.'

Activists are opposed to the expansion of London's Heathrow Airport and the possibility of a third runway.

Eddie Childs of Plane Stupid (left) and Neil Keveren from Residents Against Expansion (right) both took part in the protest against the third runway. However, they were not among those arrested at the demonstration today

Motorists are facing traffic delays as the barricaded road is the one of the main routes in and out of the London airport, and there have been reports of traffic jams already backing up for several miles, even back to the M4

Long traffic queues could be seen on the M4 spur road leading to the tunnel, caused by today's demonstration

Police and a recovery team at the scene of the blockade in the tunnel where five people were arrested earlier

Cameron Kaye, a spokesman for demonstration group Plane Stupid, said: 'Airport expansion would wreck the legally-binding Climate Change Act, risking wiping out 55 per cent of species this century and displacing 75 million more people from their homes by 2035.

'If aviation growth isn't reduced, by 2037 aviation alone could emit all of the carbon it's safe for the UK to emit.

'The government needs to choose: build new runways or stop climate chaos: it's that simple.'

In July, activists from the same group delayed flights when they chained themselves together on the runway.

Protester and local builder Nigel Keveren said: 'No one wants to do this. They feel they have to. People feel they have no choice. After we campaigned for years, David Cameron was elected promising 'no ifs, no buts: no third runway'.

'We have been forced to be disobedient just to be heard. To save our homes and our planet.'

He added: 'I have lived here all my live, as did my parents and grandparents. If this runway happens I will live 54 paces from the fence, my village will be torn in two.

'I can say that the people in that tunnel are doing it 100 per cent with conviction. They are putting themselves at substantial risk to show the public that they are being misled by the Government.'

Eddie Childs, a 26-year-old protester from neighbouring village Sipson, said: 'These people in the tunnel are carrying out a peaceful democratic because the country's leaders have gone back on their promises. The irresponsible actions of the Government are putting the future of the planet on the line.' 

There were lengthy queues as motorists waited to get into the inbound tunnel at Heathrow Airport this morning

A contro-flow traffic system has been put in place while Met Police officers deal with the ongoing protest (left). Armed officers (right) were also sent to the scene as the force attempted to gain control of the demonstration

Meanwhile, Rob Gray, of the Back Heathrow campaign which now represents more than 100,000 residents and small businesses, said today's protest 'does not represent the view' of all residents.

He said: 'Of the 70,000 responses to the Airports Commission public consultation, 82 per cent were in favour of Heathrow expansion. A new runway has strong cross-party support in Parliament and is backed by the majority of UK businesses, international airlines and local residents.' 

David Cameron is due to make a decision before the end of the year on whether to proceed with a recommendation to build a new runway at Heathrow, a move which would disappoint some local residents and climate change groups who oppose airport expansion.

Confirming the protest today, Heathrow Airport apologised for any disruption but confirmed no flights had been delayed.

A spokesman said: 'We can confirm there is a protest taking place in the inbound tunnel which is currently affecting traffic around the central terminal area and terminals 2 and 3 at Heathrow.

'Police are on site but we advise passengers to allow extra time getting to the airport today.

'Our priority is to return to normal operations as quickly as possible and we apologise for any disruption caused by the protest.'

Contra-flow measures on the outbound section have been put in place in a bid to keep traffic flowing but drivers are advised reroute to Terminals 4 and 5 and use the free inter-terminal transfer service to travel to Terminals 2 and 3.

Heathrow Express, Connect or London Underground services also serve Terminals 2 and 3.

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