Millions invested at airport

The airport takes commercial and military aircraft

Cornwall's airport has been given a new lease of life with a multi-million pound investment in its taxiways.

The resurfacing work will improve safety and allow Newquay Cornwall Airport to take heavier aircraft.

The airport is based at RAF St Mawgan, near Newquay, so the taxiways have to cope with military aircraft including Sea King helicopters and Tornado fighters.

But it also takes commercial flights, including budget Boeing 737-800 flights from Stansted operated by Ryanair.

The future use of the airport is being reviewed

The work has been funded by the Ministry of Defence, which is currently examining the future use of the airport as part of a strategic review.

But Squadron Leader Ken Tully said he is not concerned that the money spent on the improvements will be wasted.

He said: "It's often thought that these reviews are designed as a means of closing bases.

"It is very important to say that they are merely looking at the way these airfields are used.

"Indeed St Mawgan's future use has been under discussion now for many years and we are still here, still doing good business."

He added that the work would benefit both the military and the public using the airport.