Decision delayed over RAF centre

About 500 uniformed personnel at a Staffordshire RAF base must continue to wait for a decision on the future of the site.

There are plans to close RAF Stafford to cut costs, and a final verdict had been expected by the end of the month.

But Armed Forces minister Adam Ingram has told Stafford's MP David Kidney he needs more time to make a decision.

After reading a Ministry of Defence (MoD) review into the matter, Mr Ingram said a verdict was now likely in April.

Mr Ingram told a delegation of local councillors earlier in the month he would make a decision by the end of March.

It is estimated the closure of RAF Stafford would cost the local area about £17m a year in lost jobs and contracts, as well as the knock-on effect to local businesses.

A 5,000-signature petition opposing the plans was sent to the government in January.

The MoD is considering the future of its 15 UK RAF bases, including Stafford, which employs about 600 people in total.