Neighbours fighting the Heathrow Airport expansion say they hope they will be granted judicial review – or it will be like “slamming a door” in their faces.

Environmental charities, such as Plan B and Friends of the Earth, are hoping for a full and proper court hearing into the airport’s £14billion expansion.

They are due to make a case to a judge on October 4, who will decide whether it should go to a full court hearing.

John Stewart, chairman of HACAN, a group campaigning against the expansion, says the decision could be vital for residents in Leyton, Leytonstone and Wanstead who could face unprecedented levels of noise if a third-run is built.

Mr Stewart said: “People are completely distressed by the noise and adding a third-runway will make it even more distressing for them.

“If none of the challenges are accepted I think there will be dismay from many residents who think this is a last chance saloon.

“They will feel like a door has been slammed in their faces and that they have not been listened to or thought of at all.”

The grounds of the challenge are on air quality, inadequate environmental assessment, climate change, surface access and breach of the habitats directive.

Mr Stewart will be protesting outside the courts along with a number of other people campaigning against the expansion and hopes their presence makes the judge take the voices of local people into account when deciding whether or not to grant any of the judicial reviews.

He said: “It is just as important that the judge listens to local people as he does to the Government and the aviation industry.

“The message we want to send to the judge is that we want him to take the legal challenges seriously because a third runway will have such a devastating impact on people’s lives.”

It is not known whether the judge will make a decision which cases qualify for a full hearing on October 4 or whether he will reserve judgement until a later date.