REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley has called for action following the announcement that Government Ministers have given the green light to hotly disputed plans to build a third runway at Heathrow.

Following the announcement on Tuesday, October 10 Mrs Lumley has sated the need to get on with the project.

Mrs Lumley said: "Personally, I backed the expansion of Gatwick, but now the preference has finally been made public, I would press on the Government to deliver as soon as possible.

"It is vital that the UK is seen to be open for business and building the infrastructure we need to compete, so I am pleased the Government has at last made its decision."

Ministers approved the long-awaited decision, which is their main option to expand UK airport capacity, at a cabinet committee meeting and both unions and business groups have welcomed the decision.

During her years as MP, Mrs Lumley has also been a champion Birmingham Airport and is still anxious to push the virtues of it as an amazing airport with capacity to spare.

She added: "Birmingham can now take larger planes to emerging markets and we should not lose sight of the fact that we have a great opportunity, right here on our doorstep.

"I will be looking forward to meeting management soon to discuss how they can take advantage of all the opportunities open to them."

A public consultation will now be held on the effects of airport expansion before the Government makes a final decision as part of a national policy statement on aviation.

MPs will then vote on that decision, and that will likely be in the winter of 2017-18. Construction is not expected to begin until 2020 or 2021, with the new runway capacity operational by 2025.