Peers clamp down on night flights

Government plans to abolish current limits on night flights have been defeated in the House of Lords.

The move may come as a blow to airlines hoping to increase off-peak services but will relieve residents in the flight-path of Heathrow and other major airports.

Tory councillor Edward Lister was among the politicians campaigning against the move.

"The government and the airlines wanted to do away with the only protection people living near airports have. Early morning flights ruin people's sleep and damage their health," he told the BBC.

Peers also voted in favour of forcing airports to fine airlines with noisy planes.

It is argued that this would end the disadvantage to those airports that already voluntarily levy charges on noisy airlines.

The government was in favour of sanctioning more night flights on the grounds that technological innovations have recently led to a 75 per cent reduction in noise levels.

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