No RAF Lossiemouth decision 'until 2011'

It is feared RAF Lossiemouth's Tornados may be moved to RAF Marham

Defence Secretary Liam Fox has said a decision on the future of the RAF Lossiemouth base will not be taken until the new year.

His comments came in a meeting with the SNP's Westminster leader and Moray MP Angus Robertson.

It is feared RAF Lossiemouth's Tornados may be moved to RAF Marham in Norfolk.

Mr Robertson said there was a prolonged period of uncertainty, but it would give the task force fighting closure more time to put its case.

The Ministry of Defence has insisted no decision has been reached about the Lossiemouth base's future.

Thousands of people took part in a march on Sunday in support of the RAF base.

Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey earlier told the Commons it was unlikely a decision on where to base Tornado aircraft would be taken before next spring.

The campaign to secure the future of Lossiemouth comes amid fears for Moray's other RAF base at Kinloss.

The UK government announced it was cancelling the next generation of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft, which would have been stationed there.