LOCAL MPs have raised the stakes in the battles over a second runway at Stansted Airport by requesting a meeting with Tony Blair.

Bishop's Stortford MP Mark Prisk has written to the Prime Minister requesting a meeting between himself, Stansted MP Sir Alan Haselhurst and North East Herts MP Oliver Heald to discuss the views of their constituents.

In the letter he stated that Mr Blair had met local Labour MPs before the announcement of the white paper last December and hoped he would now meet local Conservative MPs.