A PENSIONER has won a 14-year compensation battle against Leeds Bradford Airport after claiming her house slumped in value following a runway extension.

And the 84-year-old's solicitor says the victory could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims against airports all over the country.

The fight began in 1984 when John and Marie Whitehead asked unsuccessfully for compensation from the airport, claiming increased traffic due to the runway extension had knocked £11,000 off the value of their bungalow home.

Now the Lands Tribunal in London has told the airport to pay her £2,800 plus compensation - a total of more than £6,000. The airport is also facing a legal bill of around £400,000.

Mrs Whitehead said: "I'm very pleased indeed. We started it and the solicitors carried on. I think it will have been worth it - but the other people living round here should get some compensation as well - it's not just me.

"The extension has brought a lot more planes and they are much nearer when they come down although they are not as loud - unless you get Concorde then everything vibrates."

The tribunal decision was also welcomed by neighbour, Les Ayton, a member of the Leeds Bradford Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise.

He said he believed other residents who lodged a compensation claim against the airport in 1984 or 1985 would try again. "I will have a go a re-stating my claim now - it is there with the airport and I have an acknowledgement of it."

In an 86-page written judgement, the panel said the bungalow in Scotland Way - where Mrs Whitehead has lived for more than 20 years - had depreciated in value by £2,800.

And the airport has been ordered to pay both sets of legal fees - estimated by her solicitor Mark Abrol to be £200,000 each.

He said the tribunal decision could pave the way for more claims from other residents around Leeds Bradford airport and other airports. "I have been instructed to act for some others around Leeds Bradford.

"Originally, there were several hundred who wanted to claim, but it's impossible to say how many will still want to take action. The airport may say it is too late for them to claim now, but we would argue otherwise. I think it's an important decision and it is going to increase public awareness as to their rights."

Cathy Mason, the airport's finance and administration executive director, said the question of costs had not yet been settled.

"The airport believes there was no detrimental effect to the property and its expert eye witnesses put their case to that effect.

"It is the only claim made at the Lands Tribunal and, as far as we are aware, there are no others - the time within which to have made a claim expired seven years ago."

Peter Fisher, Lands Tribunal manager, said more than 500 claims were expected after the alterations, but only the Whitehead's was put forward.

"This particular case has been contested in great detail," he said.

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