Britain has decided to build up a 300 million pound airport for a small island with population of around 4,000 people.

Mr. Andrew Mitchell, International Development Secretary, stated that Britain had a "responsibility" to set up the airport on St Helena that is a South Atlantic island and a British Overseas Territory.

The island can only be reached by water on Royal Mail ship St Helena, which now requires to be replaced.

As per reports, around 64 million pounds would be required to build a new ship and there would be operating costs too.

The preceding Labour administration rejected its plan for the airport because of rising costs.

An airport could bring financial independence, Mitchell said and added: "A new ship would provide a costly service, but not a solution to St Helena's stagnation and perpetual dependence on UK aid." (With Inputs from Agencies)