The debate over the future of Gatwick is drawing to a close with anti-expansion campaigners claiming success.

In March the British Airports Authority launched the Gatwick Master Plan which said passenger numbers would increase from 32 million a year to 45 million by 2015. It contained a proposal to build a second runway if plans for expansion at Heathrow fell through.

Brendon Sewill, chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, said district, borough and county councils surrounding the airport had expressed concern over the second runway.

He said: "All the MPs are opposed to the runway and the member for Crawley, Laura Moffatt, who previously supported the idea of a parallel runway, has now made it clear she is opposed to a wide spaced runway." The protesters said to increase passenger numbers would lead to more pollution, noise and traffic.

They called for an environmental agreement to be set up tying the airport to tough targets over noise and emissions.

Although against plans for a wide spaced runway to double the airport's capacity, Mrs Moffatt said she was concerned about Gatwick's viability as an international airport if expansion went ahead at Heathrow.