Business leaders from 36 organisations in the South East are taking a letter to Downing Street arguing the case for expansion at Gatwick Airport.

They said a second runway would create tens of thousands of jobs and add £1.7bn a year to the local economy.

Campaigners against the expansion have said that it would cause “unacceptable” levels of pollution.

The government is due to make a final decision whether Gatwick or Heathrow should expand this summer.