CAMPAIGNERS staged a 'sleep-in' outside a government conference on night flights in London last week in a protest against the possible lifting of restrictions on night flights which, they claim, would create misery and sleepless nights for thousands of residents in and around Heathrow and other airports.

Last Friday February 27, representatives of campaigning groups HACAN ClearSkies, Friends of the Earth and Stop Stansted Expansion were joined by MPs and MEPs in their protest outside the London Hotel.

Caroline Lucas, Green MEP for South East England, also launched the Europe-wide campaign to ban night flights at all European airports.

The 'sleep-in' took place opposite the Thistle Hotel in Buckingham Palace Road between 8.45 and 9.30am. The conference, which had been organised by the Department for Transport, was held at the Thistle Hotel from 9.30am until 4pm.

Campaigners argue that night noise from aircraft is proven to be responsible for sleep disturbance, increased heart rates, and day after affects such as depressed moods. The World Health Organisation recommends that night noise heard in bedrooms should not exceed 45 decibels, however, even 15 miles from an airport, the noise of a plane landing at the airport can be over 60 decibels.

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, said "Night flights are hugely unpopular. Most people believe they should be banned. It beggars belief that the dinosaurs from the Department for Transport should set aside a whole day for a conference like this. Of the 11 speakers on the conference agenda, nine represent either government or the aviation industry."

Caroline Lucas added, "Right across Europe people are calling for a ban on night flights. Today marks the start of a Europe-wide campaign to bring them to an end. There is considerable support within the European Parliament for a ban."

Richard Dyer, Aviation Campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said, "It's ironic that a sleep in' demonstration outside a night flights conference will be the only opportunity that many of those protesting here today get to rest. Noise disturbance from aircraft is a serious and escalating health issue, people concerned about this nuisance should demand that their MEP supports the call for a Europe wide night flights ban."

At a Europe-wide Conference of campaign organisations, co-hosted by Caroline Lucas recently, night flights were regarded as one of the biggest problems facing community groups across Europe.

Few major airports have no night flights but Heathrow has 16 flights, flying over 500,000 people which is more than anywhere else in Europe. At the UK airports, night flight numbers per night average out over the year at Heathrow (16), East Midlands (60 mostly freight), Gatwick (over 40) and Stansted (over 30) - with the latter two airports, there are many more flights in the summer than in winter.

HACAN ClearSkies, which represents residents under the Heathrow flight path, took the UK Government to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, arguing that night flights were a breach of Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention which entitles individuals to the peaceful enjoyment of their own homes.

In October 2001, the Court ruled in HACAN ClearSkies' favour. But the UK Government appealed and, last year, the Appeal Court ruled in its favour. Later this year, the Department for Transport is expected to consult on the night flight regime between 2005 and 2010 at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick.

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport would not comment.