FORMER Beirut hostage Terry Waite today backed the Evening Star's No More Stansted campaign, warning that a second runway would destroy countryside on the Essex/Suffolk border.

FORMER Beirut hostage Terry Waite today backed the Evening Star's No More Stansted campaign, warning that a second runway would destroy countryside on the Essex/Suffolk border.

And he warned that an expanded airport could become a white elephant, with low-cost airlines being forced to cut back services if environmental taxes are increased.

Mr Waite, who lives between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury, is a keen supporter of the Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) campaign and is due to join other supporters of the group at a special picnic in Broxted Wood next weekend.

The wood was planted in 2004 by members of SSE and is on land which would be needed if a second runway was built at the Essex airport.

It is now full of healthy saplings.

Mr Waite said: “I think it is absolutely essential that there is no further expansion of Stansted Airport. There is no need for the expansion and it would destroy that part of East Anglia.

“There is already ribbon development near the airport and if further expansion is allowed it would effectively mean that part of Essex would be swallowed up by London.

“And the effect over the whole region would be very serious. I certainly welcome your support for the campaign.”

Mr Waite warned that new taxes would alter the economics of cheap flights.

He said: “I cannot believe that governments will not eventually introduce tax on aviation fuel, and when that happens prices of flights will have to go up and the number of flights will inevitably come down.

“That would leave us with a huge airport which is not needed.”

Mr Waite said if increasing the number of flights were the only issue, it would make sense to use existing redundant airfields across the region rather than expanding Stansted.

“If Stansted expands communities will be destroyed. A large number of grade II listed buildings would have to be demolished. That is not right,” he added.

Mr Waite will speak at the SSE picnic in the wood on Sunday week, July 8. The picnic takes place at between 3pm and 5pm. Entrance is free of charge. Tea and cakes will be on sale.