A decision on airport expansion in south-eastern England is to be delayed until "at least October", Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has said.

The move follows the UK's Brexit vote, which triggered a leadership contest in the Conservative government.

Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been vying with each other over building an extra runway.
Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye said expansion "must be a key building block in the government's Brexit plan".

"It will allow British exporters to trade with all the growing markets of the world, strengthening Britain's position as one of the great trading nations," he said.

"At a time of uncertainty, a £16bn privately funded infrastructure investment will create jobs and growth across the UK."

Last July, the Airport Commission recommended Heathrow be expanded with a third runway - a 3,500-m runway north of the two existing ones - at an estimated cost of £18.6bn.

But in December, the government delayed its decision, saying further work on noise, pollution and compensation needed to be carried out.

On Monday, Gatwick Airport said the Brexit vote showed it was "clearer than ever that only Gatwick can deliver the new runway Britain needs".

Conservative leadership contender Boris Johnson, a prominent member of the Leave campaign, consistently opposed Heathrow airport expansion while he was Mayor of London.

source: BBC News