Buckinghamshire holidaymakers could face delays and disruption as climate campaigners protest next to the world's busiest airport.

Up to 2,000 protesters, who are unhappy about the planned expansion of Heathrow Airport and the carbon footprint of air travel, are taking part in a week of planned activities which they have said will culminate on Sunday with 24 hours of direct action.

The climate change campaig- ners camped on a site north of the airport in the path of a proposed third runway, believe that increased air travel will make the problems caused by global warming worse.

The climate change impact of aviation is increasing, as is the demand for air travel.

Aviation currently accounts for six per cent of the UK's total CO2 emissions and 1.6 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The Department for Transport estimates that aviation will contribute 21 per cent of the UK's CPO2 emissions in 2050.

Aircraft also produce water vapour, which leads to contrails and cirrus clouds being formed as well as nitrogen oxides, which creates ozone, a greenhouse gas, at altitude.

The protest comes at the height of the holiday season when many people from this area will be hoping to fly abroad on their holidays.