The four week extension has been welcomed by campaigners who claimed not enough people knew about the proposed flight path changes which could see planes roar up to 1,000ft lower over Berkhamsted, Tring and surrounding villages.

A protest meeting was held in Tring and several organisations including Tring Action Group and Wigginton Action Group have been formed to fight the move.

During the meeting campaigners said a key issue is the Bovingdon Stack - a piece of airspace where planes wait to fly into Heathrow.

Its location means planes leaving Luton Airport have to fly lower over parts of Berkhamsted and Tring to avoid circulating planes above.

They argued it should be moved to allow planes to go higher quicker

It was also put forward that Luton Airport should be subject to a night time flight curfew similar to London City Airport.

National Air Traffic Services (NATS), which has put forward the changes, has been criticised by protesters who said the consultation document is too complicated and not widely available.

MP for south west Herts David Gauke spoke at the meeting last Thursday (May 8) at the Red Cross Hall in Faversham Close, Tring.

He has drawn up a draft response to the changes that can be viewed at www.davidgauke.com. "It is important that we make our voice heard," he said.

NATS has said the consultation information is available online and at libraries. However, campaigner Sue Yeomans, of Grove Road, Tring said the document includes a DVD that cannot be played at Tring Library or taken home to watch.

A spokesman for NATS said the video can be viewed at www.consultation.nats.co.uk.

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The consultation period will now end on Thursday, June 19. NATS said it is in response to people who said they did not have enough time to respond.

To Join Tring Action Group call Sue Yeoman on 01442 824832 or email sue@yeomans.org.uk. For more information about Wigginton Action Group visit www.wigginton.info.