If you went down to Heathrow yesterday evening, your were in for a big surprise.

The domestic departures area in Terminal 1 at Heathrow last night hosted a mass Edwardian-themed picnic as 250 protesters spread out blankets and sat down to dinner in front of the departure gates.

The voice of the loudspeaker was drowned out by a string quartet as protesters in turn-of-the-century garb – in homage to the suffragettes – protested against the proposed third runway at Heathrow.

Tamsin Omond, of Climate Rush, the environmental pressure group that helped to organise the protest, said: “This is part of an escalating movement of peaceful direct action to get people engaged. We’re here to say we don’t need domestic flights or a third runway. The Government is not reaching its goals on climate change and we are raising that awareness.”

The protesters were joined by residents whose homes in West London lie under the flightpath of the proposed runway. Conga lines snaked around the departure lounge as the protesters, mostly women, sat down to dine beneath Edwardian bonnets and parasols. At least 350 police officers monitored the protest.

Heathrow said that there had been no disruption to flights.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• The fourth plinth art project: famous for 60 minutes
• Rubik has a new puzzle to irritate the nation
• Is it Radio 4 or Radio Bore?