Security has been stepped up in and around Leeds-Bradford airport amid national fears of terrorist attacks, police said today.

Although no specific threats have been made to the airport, West Yorkshire police has increased the number of officers covering it and posted armed teams in and around the terminal.

The security clampdown comes after the country was put on alert following reports of a threat at Heathrow airport.

Police have put an extra 1,000 officers on patrol and 450 troops in armoured vehicles have been positioned around the airport after threats of a possible rocket attack on a plane were revealed.

Staff at Leeds-Bradford airport today remained tight-lipped about the increased security moves and said they were diverting all queries to the police.

A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: "In line with increased vigilance nationally around airport safety and security, West Yorkshire police is taking precautionary measures to tighten security in the areas surrounding the airport and the terminal itself.

"There have been no threats made but all appropriate steps are being taken as a precaution at this time.

"Some of the officers will be armed and there will be some random checks carried out but the main thing is to reassure the public with increased police presence."

President of the Chamber of Commerce John Pennington, who uses the airport several times a week to attend meetings in London, welcomed the move.

"Certainly I think it is a good idea and the general public do want to see some extra security. You would not think of Leeds and Bradford as being a target for terrorists but it is good that the threat is being taken seriously and police presence will reassure the public.

"I think it is something that we are going to have to get used to."

Home Secretary David Blunkett today said the immediate threats to the country were "not verifiable".

He said ministers had considered closing Heathrow Airport but decided such an action would have been a victory for terrorists and "catastrophic" for Britain's trade and economy.

"Trade would have suffered and the transport of people would have been disrupted."

"People can feel safer in terms of the measures we have taken than under normal circumstances where a threat had not been perceived."

Asked about the nature of the intelligence which led to yesterday's action, the Home Secretary said: "The immediate threats are not verifiable, therefore we are working on finding out more information."