Richmond Park's MP has lent her support to protestors at the Heathrow climate camp in a day-long visit.

Susan Kramer visited the global warming and airport expansion protesters on Tuesday, August 14, just ahead of the rumoured high-profile action planned for the weekend.

There are already hundreds of campaigners from across the country on the site, with about 2,000 more expected at the weekend.

Ms Kramer said: "The Government and BAA are about to put forward proposals that would virtually double the number of flights at Heathrow and end the half day of peace we get at present by changing the pattern of take-offs and landings.

"The protesters seem to be very well organised and are constantly insisting they will not harm anyone which is very different from the inflammatory language used by the national press.

"The police presence though is very intimidating with police taking photographs of people, limiting access and carrying out detailed searches of people."

Ms Kramer was joined at the camp by Twickenham's MP Vince Cable, and Richmond councillors Shas Sheehan and Stephen Knight.

There are currently about 1,800 police officers from forces in south-east England overseeing the event - a number which many borough residents feared could affect numbers in Richmond upon Thames.

But Chief Superintendent Jim Davis, of Richmond Police, dispelled fears.

He said: "We will not be disadvantaged more than any other borough in London.Central resourcing of a big event like this is shared out equally.

"Because we are a smaller borough with a large number of safer neighbourhood teams, we are restricted in those who can be deployed.

"However, where our officers have special expertise, for example specialist search officers, they will be deployed in larger numbers."

John Stewart, chair of HACAN, the campaign group representing residents under the Heathrow flight path said: "The camp will highlight many of the arguments we have been making for many years.

"Instead of hiding behind the terrorism laws, the Government should start to listen to what the campers and the residents are saying."

Mark Bullock, managing director of BAA Heathrow, said they respected the rights of people to protest, but did not believe passengers and staff should suffer any disruption from the campaigners.