A BILL unveiled yesterday clears the way for John Lennon Airport (JLA) to be hit with a multi-million pound bill for its growing security costs.

When it becomes law next year, the legislation will transfer responsibility for “threat and risk analysis” at regional airports – and for paying the bill – from the local police force to the airport owner.

Airport operators – including Peel Holdings, which owns JLA – expressed fury when the proposal was floated earlier this year, warning that the extra cost will be a heavy blow.

Neil Pakey, Peel’s deputy chief executive, said: “We just can’t pay for policing. Where are the funds going to come from to pay for it?”

The cost of policing JLA is kept under wraps for security reasons, but is likely to run into millions and is on the rise because of the heightened terror threat.

When Edinburgh Airport set up a police unit, boasting 44 officers, it was expected to cost £2.5m annually. Security at City of London airport costs £7m a year.

The measure survives in yesterday’s slimmed-down Queen’s Speech despite the legislation which was expected to contain it – the Transport Security Bill – being axed.

It has been switched to the wide-ranging Policing and Crime Bill, becoming the responsibility of the Home Office instead of the Department for Transport.

Ministers believe it is unfair that taxpayers are subsidising profit-making private enterprises as long as the local police force is meeting the bill for airport security.

A consultation paper noted that football clubs and shopping centres are already charged for policing.