AS Heathrow announces plans for 25,000 extra flights a year, a new report, Aircraft Noise, published today by the London Assembly, says noise nuisance levels are unacceptable.

It calls for a halt to all air traffic growth at Heathrow and London City airports.

The report builds on evidence given by residents who told of a dawn chorus of disruption that continued well after their children’s bedtime.

Among the recommendations in ‘Aircraft Noise’:

The Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise should use lower thresholds for disturbance, allowing residents to leave their windows open when they need to.

READ MORE: Named and shamed: the least active London boroughs

READ MORE: West Drayton man admits flying model plane near Heathrow

Air traffic at Heathrow and London City should not increase and Heathrow’s third runway should not go ahead.

Controllers should minimise continuous stacking and maximise descent and ascent, to keep aircraft further from the ground for longer.

There should be no night flights, while restrictions on early morning flights should be strengthened.

Caroline Russell, chair of the Assembly’s environment committee, said: “The experiences of residents living with the daily nightmare of overhead noise are deeply worrying. There are significant health impacts that follow from an inability to sleep, relax and concentrate.”