Early retirement for survey ship

HMS Roebuck is one of the oldest survey vessels in the Royal Navy

A Devonport-based Royal Navy survey ship is to be removed from service as part of the cuts announced by Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth.

HMS Roebuck will be retired from the fleet in 2010 - four years earlier than had been planned.

It is one of four hydrographic ships currently based at the Plymouth port.

Money saved by the cuts will go towards buying 22 new Chinook helicopters and other equipment for British troops serving in Afghanistan.

Mr Ainsworth told the House of Commons on Tuesday that the pressure on public finances meant the government had to match the defence programme to available resources.

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said HMS Roebuck, which came into service in 1986, was one of the Navy's oldest survey vessels.

The MoD admitted its withdrawal would reduce the Royal Navy's mine warfare and survey capabilities, but said the measure was necessary in order to "increase investment in those capabilities that are presently needed for current operations".