Campaigners celebrate Heathrow ruling as 'beginning of the end'

Activists hope appeal court's decision will mean death of third runway expansion plan

In the bar of the Five Bells pub, campaigners against a third runway at Heathrow were celebrating.

The 400-year-old establishment in Harmondsworth has been at the centre of the fight against the airport's expansion for nearly 20 years. Under the plans, half of the ancient village would be destroyed, including a number of listed buildings and a small housing estate. The rest would be at the perimeter fence of the new runway, and would be, residents say, uninhabitable due to the thunderous noise and pollution.