Campaign aim to keep Tornado base at RAF Marham

A campaign has started to retain a Norfolk Tornado airbase under threat from Ministry of Defence cuts.

South-West Norfolk Conservative MP Elizabeth Truss was at Swaffham on Saturday to launch a petition which she intends to hand to the prime minister.

Within minutes of the launch a large queue formed of people wanting to sign the petition.

The Make it Marham campaign is backed by West Norfolk residents, councils, MPs, businesses and the local media.

A Norfolk County Council spokesman said: "The government's strategic defence and security review is likely to lead to the number of RAF Tornado bases reducing from two to one.

"This may lead to the closure of either RAF Marham in Norfolk or RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland.

"RAF Marham employs around 5,000 staff which, including family members, amounts to a community of around 8,000 people.

"Their incomes, combined with the purchase of goods and services from local businesses, contributes in excess of £130m to the local economy."

Ms Truss plans to give the petition to David Cameron on 30 November.