MAYOR Ken Livingstone has slammed the British Airports Authority for going ahead with an "extraordinary" and "unreasonable" injunction.

He said: "BAA's proposed injunction is unreasonable, and unnecessary. It is a serious infringement of civil liberties and an attack on the right to peaceful protest."

BAA has asked for an injunction banning four people, as well as "members and supporters" of HACAN Clear Skies, Plane Stupid and NOTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group), from areas surrounding Heathrow. This will include large stretches of the M4 and M25 motorways, as well as major parts of London railways, for the duration of the Camp for Climate Action.

The Camp, planned for August 14 to 21, is rallying against climate change and opposing the plans for a third runway at Heathrow.

But Mayor Livingstone, who has consistently opposed the proposed third runway at Heathrow, has slammed BAA's wide-reaching proposal.

He said: "The injunction would prevent lawful protesters approaching within 100 metres of any Transport for London property, whether at Heathrow or elsewhere, potentially restricting the movement of millions of people."

The Mayor has written to BAA expressing his opposition to the injunction, and has pledged to fight in the courts any measures that affect London Transport.

"It is extraordinary and unacceptable that BAA did not consult Transport for London about this proposed injunction, which could have a serious impact on underground services," he said.

The injunction hearing starts today (Wednesday) at 2pm at the High Court in central London.