The affect the proposed expansion of Stansted Airport coud have on the area will be far worse than Government figures show, according to the Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign which has slammed Government noise figures as misleading.

The news comes as the British Airports Authority has revealed it is supporting the two additional runways option at Stansted.

Currently the campaign is working on alternative noise figures which it claims will show just how bad things could be with up to three extra runways.

The campaign's noise committee chairman, Chris Bennett, said they are basing their figures on three major differences. He said Government figures are based on decibel readings of 57 or higher when the World Health Organisation's recommended level is 50.

The Government's figures are also averaged over the year but Mr Bennett said the airport splits its flying over the north and south depending on the wind. Historically it is 75 per cent of the time to the north and 25 per cent to the south meaning three months worth of noise is being averaged out over a year.

Mr Bennett added that the Government figures are based on straight line arrivals avoiding major towns, which he says is not realistic, which all means that the Government noise contour map was misleading, he said.

"Harlow and Sawbridgeworth people should go somewhere around Hallingbury and see what it's like and that will give them some indication of what it could be like for them. When we've re-plotted the arrivals, particularly over Harlow, and the decibels they will see it's going to have quite an effect."

They are also replotting the average noise over three months and not a year.

Opposition in the area is strong and campaign chairman Norman Mead is thrilled with the response so far and now wants the residents to keep up the pressure.

He said: "I've been pleasantly surprised at meetings around Harlow where people are clearly keen to defend their town from more development.

The Campaign is also working on a report examining road and rail access and the knock on effects to the region in terms of housing implications, medical concerns and infrastructure.

Talking about BAA's consultation response in which it supported two more runways at Stansted Mr Mead said: "BAA simply wants to line its shareholders' pockets, even if it has to concrete over some of England's richest heritage, destroy entire villages, as well as ancient woodlands and important wildlife habitats."

Mr Mead wants people who have not already completed the consultation questionnaire to contact the Campaign office on 01279 870558.