Five London councils, Greenpeace and the mayor of London have started judicial review proceedings against the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

Lawyers for the local authorities, which include Hillingdon, Wandsworth, Richmond, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Windsor & Maidenhead LBCs - will claim the Government failed to follow the correct legal process for the expansion.

They will challenge the plans over air quality, climate change, environmental concerns and a ‘flawed' consultation process.

Hillingdon leader Cllr Ray Puddifoot said: ‘The abject failure to address the far-reaching consequences for both the environment and the health and wellbeing of tens of thousands of residents across London is simply not acceptable.

‘This council is not prepared to stand back and allow this to happen without submitting the many flaws in this project to the rigorous scrutiny of the High Court and beyond, if necessary.'