THE heat is now on for the Government to come up with some answers after the RAF's Strike Command ordered a cost-effectiveness review on the future of one of Britain's largest military air bases.

During defence question time on Monday, Defence Minister James Gray said he feared that some £18 million a year would be lost from his constituency's economy if RAF Lyneham were to close.

"It is now becoming an issue of money. I am starting to think it is as simple as that and that is a major worry. I am determined to get to the bottom of the matter and get some answers," said Mr Gray.

Defence Minister Adam Ingram would only say that there were no current plans to close the base.

Since Mr Gray announced his intention to take up Lyneham's cause with a vengeance he has received a number of letters of support and about 30 e-mails.

Lyneham resident and parish councillor Sam Wright, who was in the RAF for 22 years and was based at Lyneham during the 1970s and 1980s, has agreed to join the committee and said he looked forward to hearing what Mr Gray's battle plan was.

"Unfortunately like all matters with the MoD you do not expect very much. They will have made their decision or will be fairly close to deciding what they want to do with Lyneham and everyone knows they very rarely take any notice of what people say in the local community," said Mr Wright.

Mr Gray said: "I am sure there is still hope for Lyneham. I will certainly be fighting as hard as I can and keeping up the pressure."

Wiltshire County Council chairman Peter Chalke said notification of the review had gone to County Hall and a report was likely to go to its cabinet meeting on December 18.

"The threat of closure seems to be getting more and more real," he said.