Ministers pressed to backtrack on Heathrow

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The scale of the protest is understood to have taken the Government by surprise and is causing concern at the highest levels of Labour at the potential political fall-out if plans for a third runway are given the go-ahead.

One MP told the Evening Standard there had been a "wobble" within the Department of Transport about BAA's proposals. "They are realising this could cost them votes," he said.

In an attempt to limit the damage, the DfT refused to publish any of the submissions to the consultation, which ended yesterday. Critics claim this is because they are embarrassed that the majority of the responses are opposed to expansion.

The DfT has said it is unlikely to make public the submissions until a final decision is made this summer. The outcome is at odds with other major consultations such as the Ofcom inquiry into children's television advertising which provided a running log on a website of the responses.

Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney, said: "So far, given the ministers lack of interest in engaging with the public, the indications are they will overrule the wishes of thousands of respondents to the consultation."

A spokeswoman for the DfT said: "The DfT has gone to great effort to encourage as many people as possible to participate in this consultation by holding public exhibitions. We look forward to seeing the responses."