THE Government gave the go-ahead yesterday for UK airport expansion to cope with an expected rise in passengers over the next 30 years.

In a 173-page aviation White Paper, Transport Secretary Alistair Darling signalled his backing for two additional South-East runways - the first at Stansted and the second at Heathrow.

He also gave his support for new runways at Birmingham and Edinburgh airports, as well as the lengthening of runways at a number of other regional airports, including Newcastle.

Mr Darling also committed the Government to pursuing policies to ensure aviation became as environmentally friendly as possible.

A flood of reaction - some favourable, some hostile - showed how much must be achieved before the Government's 30-year vision becomes reality.

Residents at Stansted and Heathrow expressed anger at the plans, while the Conservatives questioned how airport operator BAA was going to pay for the Stansted expansion.

Airlines which wanted Heathrow developed before Stansted were at least pleased that their preferred airport's expansion remained under consideration.

But the Government could well face a fierce battle from airports that have missed out and from local groups opposed to any expansion.

The formula that the Civil Aviation Authority uses to determine what BAA can charge airlines for using its airports is designed to avoid investment at one airport being paid for through higher charges at another.

All parties will have to try to work out a framework allowing Stansted to be expanded within the existing financial regime.

Stressing the vital need for air transport, particularly in the South-East, Mr Darling said the first new runway should be built east of the existing one at Stansted, in Essex, preferably by 2012.

Heathrow, which some feared would miss out altogether, was given the go-ahead for a third, short runway to the north of the airport - but not before 2015-20, and only then if strict noise and air quality levels were met.

A new runway, to the south-west of the existing one, could be built at Birmingham airport by 2016, while a new runway close to, and parallel to, the existing one at Edinburgh could be completed by 2020.

Ruled out - at least until 2019 - was any expansion at Gatwick airport in Sussex.

Mr Darling decided to back the lengthening of existing runways at Liverpool, Bristol, Newcastle and Leeds Bradford airports.

The White Paper said there might be a need for runway extensions at Aberdeen and Inverness, while there was scope for a runway extension at Teesside airport.