Defence cuts hit Navy: 'A period of huge uncertainty'

Some 1,600 Navy personnel and 1,000 soldiers are to be laid off in the first round of redundancies from the Armed Forces, the government says.

Defence Minister Andrew Robathan said the move, part of £5bn defence review cuts, would help reduce the deficit.

Former First Sea Lord Jonathon Band said the move heralded a period of great uncertainty for the Navy.