BIGGIN Hill Airport's only scheduled flight is set to be grounded indefinitely.

Bromley Council's property and finance sub-committee has voted unanimously to scrap the daily 19-seater Platinum Air flight to Blackpool which has been in operation since March.

Biggin Hill Airport had asked for permission to keep the flight and introduce another service to Paris.

The flight was introduced after airport chairman Andrew Walters won a High Court decision to allow scheduled flights from the airport.

But Bromley Council took the case to the Court of Appeal, which overturned the decision.

Councillor Peter Bloomfield, who represents the Darwin ward, wanted to strengthen the council resolution not to allow the flights.

He suggested an extra clause which stated legal action would be taken if the airport did not co-operate.

Cllr Bloomfield said: “I want to see this resolution made stronger to show the airport we mean this.”

Airport spokesman Julie Black said: “Our research shows local people want to be able to fly from the airport and would use services operated from here.

“Now we have a nice little service with a small and quiet aeroplane with a second due to start and the council has moved quickly to stop them.

“When its decision is officially conveyed to the airport the service will be suspended.

“It is a sad day for progress, for business and for passengers at the airport.

Mr Walters is set to petition for leave to appeal to the House of Lords to permit scheduled flights from the airfield. A date for the appeal has not yet been set.

Derry Ivy and John Gilbert, spokesmen for Crofton and West Wickham South residents' associations, which are on the airport's flightpath, expressed their opposition to any airport expansion.

Surrounded by more than 40 supporters, Mr Ivy said: “Many thousands of residents have made it clear they are against expansion.”