Campaigners trying to block Heathrow expansion have been given the go-ahead to challenge a High Court ruling over controversial plans for a third runway.

A group of councils including Richmond and Wandsworth, residents, environmental charities and mayor of London Sadiq Khan brought four separate judicial reviews of the Government's decision to approve the plans.

During a two-week hearing in March, they argued the plans would effectively create a "new airport" with the capacity of Gatwick and have "severe" consequences for Londoners.

Their cases were dismissed by two leading judges in May, but the campaigners were given the go-ahead to challenge that ruling on Monday.

Lord Justice Lindblom granted permission for a four-day hearing at the Court of Appeal in London, which will begin on October 21.

Giving reasons for his decision, which he made based on case documents without a hearing, the judge said: "The importance of the issues raised in these and the related proceedings is obvious."

The decision by the High Court was well received by leader of Richmond Council Gareth Roberts

“We are clear. A bigger Heathrow will lead to more cars. It will lead to more air pollution. An expanded airport will bring more polluting ‘filth’ from the skies, onto our heads and that of our children, damaging our health," he said.

"We have recently reaffirmed the council’s response to the Government’s Aviation Strategy and condemned their entirely inadequate approach to mitigating climate change

“Therefore, the local authorities are right to challenge the Secretary of State’s failure to assess the environmental impacts of a third runway.

“If we do not challenge these fundamental errors in the process now we will not have another chance. It will be too late by the time the planning application is being considered.”

Wandsworth Council leader Ravi Govindia echoed those sentiments, calling on the "destructive" plans to be scrapped.

"This must be the beginning of the end for these ill-conceived expansion plans," he said.

"The consequences for the people affected in terms of noise, air pollution and environmental impact are too damaging.

"It’s also time to recognise that at a time when carbon growth in the economy is being limited it is simply wrong for Heathrow to grab the lion’s share of additional carbon for its new runway.”

Construction could begin in 2021, with the third runway operational by 2026.