Police patrol Heathrow flightpath

A heavy police presence has descended on towns and villages lying directly under the flightpath to Heathrow Airport.

In the quiet, affluent village of Wraysbury, near Staines, pairs of police officers in Day-Glo jackets were posted every 150 yards along the main road.

They had earlier been stopping drivers to carry out security checks, but had scaled down their activities as both night and heavy cloud drew in.

Asked about the ongoing operation, one constable said: "We've been told not to say anything about this for security reasons."

Officers were also out in force in historic Windsor, about three miles north west of Wraysbury.

A number of police vans were stationed along the road through the Great Park - although the Queen is not currently in residence at Windsor Castle.

All car parks and lay-bys along the A30 between Windsor and Staines, and also along some other roads, were sealed off to prevent drivers stopping.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We have a number of security checks operating in the area, but we cannot disclose any specific details."

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