Families set to lose their homes to make way for an extension to the runway at City of Derry Airport today pledged to fight until the bulldozers made them homeless.
Derry City Council last night voted to extend the runway at the airport outside the city following a recommendation from a sub committee.
Councillors said they had no alternative but to sanction the work, which could cost up to £30 millions sterling. Ryanair had threatened to pull out unless it had a longer runway for new aircraft it is to introduce.
The extra 400 metres of runway at the council-owned airport means 17 family homes at Donnybrewer Road in Eglington will have to go to make way for the extension.
The residents staged a protest outside the Guildhall council meeting saying they did not believe the council had fully considered all the alternatives and are to challenge the decision.
They said up to 60 people could be forced out of their homes and see their way of life ruined.
Threatening to fight through the courts to save their homes, residents' spokesman Mr Kieran O'Brien said: "We are gutted, this is very emotional, we are just ordinary working men but we will take it as far as we can.
"No doubt this will run and run, but we will try and take it all the way we can - should it take everything we have."
PA