Protesters today believe their battle to stop a second runway being built at Gatwick has been won.

But they still harbour concerns the controversial proposal will one day be resurrected.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling is tomorrow expected to announce a second runway for Stansted and a third, short runway for Heathrow.

Gatwick looks likely to be ruled out of the equation partly because of a legal agreement signed in the Seventies which said there would be no second runway built until 2019.

The airport is also surrounded by hills and towns, which also makes it more difficult to expand.

Leading campaigner Brendon Sewill, of the Gatwick Airport Conservation Campaign, welcomed the news but said there were still concerns.

He said: "We have always been confident Gatwick would not be chosen because of the agreement.

"However, the plans announced tomorrow will be looking at expansion in the South-East for the next 30 years.

"We are interested to know whether there are any long- term plans to expand Gatwick after 2019."

The long-awaited Government White Paper on aviation expansion is expected to cause a huge storm of protest.

Planners had considered building a new airport at Cliffe, in north Kent, but this is almost certain to be ruled out on environmental grounds.

Kent County Council has forced the Government to reconsider the possibility of expanding Gatwick after it originally ruled it out because of the covenant.

Meanwhile British Airways, which employs around 5,000 workers at Gatwick, has dismissed as "speculation" reports the airline was planning to shed 5,000 jobs across its international workforce.

It said no decision had been made on any job losses but admitted chief executive Rod Eddington had not ruled them out.

A spokeswoman said: "It's pure speculation. A business plan is being formed where we are looking at ways of making savings but no decision on anything has been made.

"The plan is due to be published early in the New Year. Nothing has been decided."

The airline industry has been in crisis since September 11 with companies around the world struggling.

British Airways currently has debts of £4.8 million and bosses say urgent action is needed.

Gatwick has been hit hard in the past by job losses.

At the beginning of 2002, BA announced it was shedding 3,000 jobs and cutting its workforce from 8,000 to 5,000.

Monday December 15, 2003