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BAA, the UK's leading airport operator, has announced that it is making a substantial investment in airport security.

At the annual Airport Operators Association conference, BAA's chief executive, Stephen Nelson, said more money would be put into keeping the UK's hubs secure.

It comes after the recent terror scares in August this year, when a heightened security level, following reports of a terrorist plot, brought the country's airports to a standstill.

'Our additional investment in nearly 500 new security staff amounts to an extra £16 million a year on top of the £200 million-plus that we already spend on security,' revealed Mr Nelson.

'We are also spending an additional £7 million on new x-ray machines and archway metal detectors to expand our security capacity by about 20% in time for the holiday season.

'This investment forms a major part of our programme to reduce queues at our busiest airports,' he added.

Mr Nelson also defended proposals to introduce new runways at both Stansted and Heathrow airport.

'Without new runway capacity, London will continue to lose competitive ground to Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam and that will weaken the heart of the British economy,' he added.

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