County and parish councillors in the Vale of White Horse say expected increases in the number of international jet flights over the area in next 13 years are nothing to worrry about.

Plans to change flightpaths over south Oxfordshire could mean up to 28 flights an hour to the United States passing over villages to the west of Wantage by 2018.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England has objected to the proposals by the Civil Aviation Authority because of 'potential damage to the tranquillity of the countryside'.

However, residents who already live with the daily overhead traffic of westbound airliners climbing out of London's Heathrow say that aircraft noise is already a fact of life.

Villagers' main criticism in recent years has been aimed at service helicopters on low-level exercises from the RAF bases at Benson, near Wallingford, or Odiham in Hampshire.

The Government has brought forward a Civil Aviation Bill which has been scrutinised in the House of Commons.

It will be going to the Upper House in October for debate.

Peter Davies, parish clerk in Charney Bassett, near Wantage, said: "My own view is that it is a lot of fuss about nothing.

"I've spoken to quite a lot of people about this, and a lot say 'what's the big deal?'

"I reckon there isn't any moment in the day when you can't see aircraft overhead.

"You can hear them, but it doesn't intrude and people don't notice them."

David Robertson, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport, said the council was unhappy that it had not been consulted over the proposals.

But he added: "Living in west Oxfordshire, I'm used to planes coming in and out of Brize Norton and find that you get used to them."