A pro-Heathrow expansion group has condemned Richmond Council for spending thousands of pounds opposing a potential third runway, but refused to disclose how much it has received from Heathrow Airport.

Back Heathrow released figures in December which show Richmond Council spent £108,656 opposing expansion between 2007 and 2014, and a further £9,100 since 2015.

Richmond is one of four councils – along with Hillingdon, Wandsworth and Windsor and Maidenhead - is set to spend £50,000 on a judicial review of the Government’s decision to recommend Heathrow expansion.

Lord True, Richmond’s council leader, hit back at Back Heathrow, saying the bulk of the money was spent on a 2013 Heathrow referendum in west London.

The referendum revealed 100,000 residents were opposed to a third runway, and Richmond Council is now campaigning on their behalf, Lord True said.

He said: “This is utter nonsense. It is time the Back Heathrow Group gave up their charade of pretending to be a grass roots support group.

“They need to try listening to people and give up this childish political banter. I now call this group to publish their accounts and reveal to us who is really funding their operation.”

When asked to reveal how much it had received from Heathrow Airport, Back Heathrow said it does not publish individual donations, but acknowledged the airport helped fund the group.

A Back Heathrow spokesman said: “We are very grateful for the support we have received from the airport, residents and local businesses.

“Unlike Richmond Council, which is actively wasting tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money, we have never spent public money on our campaign and our funding only comes from individuals and organisations who share our aims and who choose to contribute.

“Thousands of Richmond residents have had absolutely no choice but to fund the council’s anti-Heathrow agenda, even though many support expansion.”