Kingston's air quality would suffer if Heathrow built a third runway, council leader Kevin Davis has warned.

Coun Davis was responding to the long-awaited publication of the Airport Commision report, which this week recommended expansion at Heathrow.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said the Government will make a decision on airport expansion by the end of the year.

But Coun Davis said: "Kingston has some issues with air pollution already, especially in north Kingston. It is definitely something I am very worried about.

"The trouble with aviation pollution especially is that it sinks and that could be a real problem for Kingston."

Coun Davis said Gatwick expansion would be a far better option for Kingston.

He said: "Gatwick expansion would allow me to argue for extra funds to improve infrastructure in and around the borough.

Surrey Comet:

Matt Gorman

"We could improve roads like the A243 through Hook because they would become more widely used after a Gatwick expansion."

But Matt Gorman, Heathrow's director of environment and sustainability, said the airport could provide a third runway and still hit air quality targets.

Mr Gorman said: "We set out a commitment to create a third runway without any additional airport-related traffic on the roads.

"There will be rail links to the north, south and east of the airport as well as improved bus and road connections.

"We think the plans are credible and we can have a third runway at Heathrow without increasing traffic locally."

Richmond Park and North Kingston MP Zac Goldsmith, a long-standing opponent of Heathrow expansion, said commission chair Sir Howard Davies had taken "a telegram appraoch in a broadband age".

Mr Goldsmith said: "Against all the available evidence, he is effectively proposing that we spend vast sums of taxpayer money subsidising the creation of a huge foreign-owned monopoly.

"It is hugely disappointing that he has ignored the key evidence he received in the course of his work. On every level, Heathrow expansion is the wrong answer.

"Sir Howard has addressed an aviation model that is becoming obsolete. "Transfer traffic across Europe has been declining for years because of technology changes and the rise of low cost carriers, while point-to-point trips are increasing.

"His is the telegram approach in a broadband age.