Birmingham Airport has urged the Government to help it grow - rather than "focusing narrowly on connectivity to Heathrow".

MPs are set to vote on controversial plans to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

And the Government has insisted the project will help many regional airports, because it will make it easier for them to get and keep services to Heathrow.

But Birmingham Airport urged the Government to help it succeed by improving transport links in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

And it highlighted warnings that expanding Heathrow will actually place "additional competitive pressure" on Birmingham, potentially costing it business.

A spokesperson said: “Heathrow expansion is still a long way off, with 2030 the earliest date for completion and it’s unclear what the aviation market will look like at this point, given a fast moving global economy and Brexit uncertainties.

"Furthermore, while the precise impact on Birmingham from a third runway at Heathrow remains to be seen, there will eventually be additional competitive pressure.

"We look forward to seeing the Government’s commitment to supporting regional airports with existing capacity come to life in the forthcoming Aviation Strategy.

“We believe that the Government should work with us and our local and regional partners to improve transport links and surface access within and around Birmingham and the West Midlands, rather than focusing narrowly on connectivity to Heathrow.

"Birmingham Airport is an economic driver for the West Midlands. Government support will help us to do even more towards growing jobs and prosperity in the region.”

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling admitted earlier this month that building a third runway at Heathrow Airport could be bad for business at Birmingham Airport.

He said Birmingham would face “greater competitive pressure” as a result of the decision to expand Heathrow.

And former Transport Secretary Justine Greening has written to Midland MPs highlighting an analysis which showed Birmingham Airport losing 17,098 international flights annually by 2030 as a direct result of Heathrow expansion.

Although the Government is backing Heathrow expansion, Ms Greening, now a backbench Conservative MP, is opposing it.

Some regional airports are firmly in favour of Heathrow expansion but they stand to benefit from extra domestic services to Heathrow while Birmingham is unlikely to get any of these.

Urging MPs to vote in favour of the project, Mr Grayling promised the new runway scheme will be privately funded at no cost to taxpayers.

It would open up new international routes, create more than 100,000 new jobs and double freight capacity, he said.

Former Rotherham comprehensive schoolgirl Justine Greening on her way to being appointed Secretary of State for Education on July 14, 2016
Former Transport Secretary Justine Greening believes Birmingham Airport will suffer

And he highlighted a commitment to ensure about 15% of new slots were reserved for domestic routes.

Mr Grayling said: "This is a momentous vote that has been 50 years in the making and represents the biggest transport decision in a generation.

"Successive governments have wrestled with the issue of Heathrow expansion but never before has Parliament held a vote on this project."

Today’s vote follows a government decision on June 5 to officially support the expansion of Heathrow through a new Northwest Runway – put forward in a proposed Airports National Policy Statement.

If approved, it will see the construction of the first full-length runway in the south-east since the Second World War.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson opposes Heathrow expansion, but will avoid the vote as he is abroad.

His Conservative colleague Sarah Wollaston told the Radio 4's Westminster Hour show on Sunday night that Mr Johnson should resign from the Government and vote against the third runway.