PM makes surprise air base visit

Mr Brown was briefed on the deployment of Merlin helicopters.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made a "private" visit to the helicopter base at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire.

Together with Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, Gordon Brown met the chief of staff, personnel and families at the military base.

RAF Benson is a front line support helicopter base and home to the Merlin and Puma helicopters.

The prime minister was briefed on the planned deployment of the Merlins in Afghanistan at the end of the year.

Mr Brown's spokesman said the number of helicopter hours available to troops in Afghanistan had "almost doubled" in two years.

Referring to the visit to RAF Benson, his spokesman added it "was a private visit".

"He wanted to meet some of the military personnel who are directly involved in some of these issues," he said.