MP James Gray said 10,600 people have signed a petition to save RAF Lyneham, more than twice the number he had hoped for.

The signatures have been collected over the past two months across north Wiltshire and Mr Gray is to present them to the Speaker of the House of Commons after Easter.

"It is a very good number indeed," said Mr Gray.

"I have no clues as to how ministers are thinking and we can only keep up the battle."

He said he expects the number of signatures to rise to more than 11,000, but urged anyone still collecting petitions to forward them to his House of Commons office.

"There are still a few trickling in, but if anybody is still collecting they should send them," said Mr Gray.

The address is, James Gray, The House of Commons, SW18 0AA.

In November Ministry of Defence chiefs announced they were reviewing the future of RAF Lyneham as they identified the most suitable base for the A400M aircraft, which will work with the C-130J Hercules to form the RAF's air transport fleet.

The review will also consider the future of RAF bases at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and St Mawgan in Cornwall.

The results are expected to be announced later in the summer.