MP bids to secure future of base

Mr Beith said the base's functions should not be moved south

North MP Alan Beith will be meeting Defence Minister Adam Ingram as part of the fight to save an RAF base.

The future of RAF Boulmer, in Northumberland, is being considered by the government as part of its Strategic Defence Review.

Northumberland County Council and Alnwick District Council had already written to the government to warn of the consequences of closing the site.

Mr Beith will press the case for keeping the base open.

Berwick MP Mr Beith said: "I will be pressing very strongly that while more money is needed to equip our troops, there should be no question of wasting money moving RAF Boulmer's functions down south.

Loss of jobs

"The recently refurbished bunker at Boulmer is also a valuable secure environment at a time of terrorist threat."

The RAF has signalled that the base is one of four in the UK being looked at in a review of combat support units.

The two councils said closing the base would have a catastrophic effect on the region.

A study carried out for the county council found the closure of Boulmer would take £18m out the local economy.

It found closing the base would mean the direct loss of 800 jobs and hitting another 195 base-dependent jobs in the local community.