A six-week public consultation has started on proposals to develop Bristol International Airport (BIA) to enable it to handle 10 million passengers a year in 10 years' time.

North Somerset Council yesterday registered the planning application for the airport's future development over the next decade. It is now open to comments from residents and interested parties.

The development is expected to create more than 3,500 jobs and increase spending in the region.

Comments should be made to North Somerset Council, quoting application reference 09/P/1020/OT2, at Somerset House, Oxford Street, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1TG