RAF Shawbury denies base threat

Prince William and Prince Harry both trained at RAF Shawbury

RAF Shawbury has denied that cuts to the number of trainee pilots threaten the future of the base.

The Daily Telegraph has claimed 30 training posts will go at RAF Shawbury.

Squadron Leader Neil Hope refused to confirm the numbers affected, but added that some 1,000 helicopter pilots are trained at Shawbury each year.

Sqn Ldr Hope said the trainees had already been spoken to and that they would be found other work at the north Shropshire base.

The BBC's Jonathan Beale said up to 100 recruits would be cut across the country.

Helicopter training

As part of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to cut about 5,000 RAF posts by 2015.

In January, Armed Forces minister Nick Harvey told MPs a decision on which RAF bases would close would be made in summer 2011.

RAF Shawbury was first used as an air training base in 1917. It currently provides helicopter training for all three of the armed services, along with air traffic control training.

Both princes William and Harry have completed helicopter training at Shawbury. Prince William graduated from an advanced course at the base last year.