THE future of RAF Lyneham has been thrown into doubt following a Ministry of Defence annoucement that is reviewing three bases.

A study is to examine where is the most cost effective place to base the new A400M aircraft.

It is feared that if the decision goes against Lyneham the base could close.

This week business people in the village feared its whole commercial life could be dealt a severe blow if the closure goes ahead.

Many of the shops, pubs and business es depend on custom from service personnel and could see trade plummet if the plan goes ahead.

"It would have a huge impact," said Mike Clarke, manager of the Mallard public house.

"A lot of our customers come from the RAF base. It would do us some damage."

He estimated around two thirds of his customers were connected with the base.

And he thought the move would also hit many other traders in Lyneham.

"Most of the service industry jobs in the village cater for people on the base," he said. "I am thinking particularly of the shops and pubs - it could be quite devastating."

Chippenham Motor Company sales manager Alan Finnie shared fears the closure would strike at the heart of local business.

The company, at The Green, Lyneham, sells cars, has a workshop for MoT repairs and the only petrol sales forecourt in the village as well as a late night shop.

He said a large proportion of fuel sales - as much as 70 per cent - were to base personnel.

"A lot of people commute to the base. We also get plenty of MoT repairs work from air force personnel,"he said.

Estate agent Alan Hawkins, who is based in Wootton Bassett and deals with many properties in Lyneham, said it would be a significant move for the village.

"A lot of the base personnel live in Wootton Bassett and it is very popular for the families," he said.

"I suspect if the planes were moved to Brize Norton many would stay here and commute that bit further. It is an issue that will be talked about for quite some time."

Mr Hawkins suspected that in the long term the closure would make houses in Lyneham more desirable for outside buyers.

Ruth Warren, who works at the charity shop The Ark, said: "Lots of the children come from RAF families and the school would suffer," she said.

"The base employs many civilian staff, in the shops and restaurants, in the officers and sergeants' mess. People are really going to be hit hard."

Assistant manager of One Stop shop, Caroline Allen, was sceptical about the possible closure.

"There have been rumours going round about a closure for years," she said. "We do get a lot of customers from the base families but it is hard to say how a closure would affect us. Half of the population is RAF orientated."

She thought a closure would have a big effect in the short-term, but other people would move in.

Another retailer declined to talk about the possible consequences, and said: "We've had these rumours every year for the last ten years."

Gareth Davies, who works at the White Hart pub in Lyneham, agreed the closure would affect businesses.

"A small proportion of our customers are from the base. Obviously the school would be badly affected because it has so many RAF children in it."