YORK shoppers can jump aboard a Friends of the Earth campaign when a spoof airline check-in desk is set up in the city centre.

York and Ryedale Friends of the Earth will be handing out spoof cheap flight offer leaflets in Parliament Street tomorrow to highlight the problems caused by plans to expand airports across the country.

The leaflets will advertise flights to the sun for £1 - but will also reveal the hidden cost of more air travel, airport expansion and the rise in cheap flights.

Friends of the Earth say the hidden costs of expansion and more cheap flights include increased noise pollution, loss of wildlife and countryside and road congestion.

People will be asked to sign a postcard to their MP expressing concern about the impacts of the Government plans.

York and Ryedale FoE spokesman Guy Wallbanks said: "People in York who think that more air travel and airports is good should think again.

"There are real costs of expanding airports and we all pay the price.

"More flights mean more aircraft noise, more traffic on the roads and more climatic change.

"Now is the time for people to make the Government see sense instead of adding to problems like road traffic, pollution and climate change."

Updated: 09:50 Friday, May 23, 2003