Winter weather grounds Moray RAF talks with Nick Harvey

Moray was to be home to the next generation of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft

Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey has had to cancel a planned visit to Moray, about its RAF bases, due to the winter weather conditions.

He had been due to meet representatives of the Moray Task Force.

Heavy snow at RAF Northolt near London prevented his plane from taking off, and the visit will be rescheduled.

The UK government announced in October it was cancelling the next generation of Nimrod aircraft, placing the future of RAF Kinloss in doubt.

There are also concerns for RAF Lossiemouth if it loses its Tornado fleet to RAF Marham.

The Moray Task Force was set up with the aim of protecting the area's defence jobs.

A petition signed by thousands of people to retain the Tornado base at RAF Marham in West Norfolk was handed in to Downing Street on Tuesday.