Government figures released recently, show the number of planes landing between 11pm and 7am last year went up by nearly 2,000.

Steve Charlish, chairman of Demand, a pressure group set up to represent residents who live under the flight path has warned the situation will get worse.

He said: "The problem will continue to worsen for anyone living in the area from as far away as Market Harborough. The fact that much of the fleet landing at the airport is getting older and noisier adds to the problem."

And last year, there were 400 complaints from Queniborough alone, with several more from the surrounding area, including one in Melton.

But airport chiefs hit back at the campaigners saying it is an important asset to the country as a whole.

A spokesman said: "We take very seriously the negative impact of night flights on our neighbours which is why we have one of the strictest set of controls in the country.

"We have to balance the impact of our operations against the benefits which are considerable: direct employment on site for 7000 people, 65% of whom live within 12 miles of the airport."

He added that most of the flights were between 11pm to 11.30pm and 6am and 7am.

It was also announced it has permission to build four, 31.5 metre windmills which will generate up to 10 per cent of the airport's electricity, helping the centre reach its target of being carbon neutral by 2012. A spokesman said the turbines are sited at least 800 metres away from the nearest home and will not be audible to residents.

But Demand said the efforts of the airport to improve its green credentials are at odds with the increase in flights.

Mr Charlish said: "The huge environmental impact of night flights is being blindsided and camouflaged by the East Midlands Airport management with proactive greenwash and their carbon neutral claims."