John Rider, West Midlands chairman of the Institute of Directors, has backed a call by top business leaders for the Government to draw up an aviation policy to boost economic growth.

A total of 74 senior business figures put their names to the plea in a letter to The Times.

The letter also urged ministers to re-visit decisions rejecting a third runway at Heathrow and banning expansion at Stansted and Gatwick.

Mr Rider rejects this, instead seeing a review as a further opportunity to position Birmingham as effectively London's fourth airport.

He said: "The South-east airports are pretty full, the nation can't afford more development there, and so we need a coordinated plan, linked to high speed rail, to have Birmingham seen as the solution.

"I very much support the call for a review. But it must not drag on for years. Both the review and subsequent action are needed quickly.

"Birmingham has considerable spare capacity and it is logical to take advantage of this in terms of London's requirements. And it reinforces the urgent need for Birmingham to get on with plans to extend the runway, a development crucial to the future of our region."