RAF Lyneham could close by the end of the decade, an MP has warned.

The base that has been at the centre of numerous war efforts for more than 60 years is having its role reviewed by the Ministry of Defence.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray, who is also the shadow defence minister, says people should be aware of the threat to its long-term future.

He claims all its operations could be moved to RAF Brize Norton by 2008, leaving Lyneham's 600 civilian staff out of work and 2,600 service personnel uprooted.

The base has confirmed that this is a possibility, but says the decision rests with ministers. The review will begin shortly and an announcement is due in July.

It has been prompted by the purchase of 25 A400M transport aircraft, which will replace most of the Hercules fleet and which are expected to be ready for service by 2008.

It is a £3.5 billion deal with three other European countries and is one of the biggest in British history.

The study is intended to identify the most cost-effective location for the fleet, which could be Lyneham, Brize Norton, or RAF St Mawgan.

Mr Gray has warned that if Brize Norton is chosen, it is likely that Lyneham, which contributes £18 million a year to the community, would be shut.

He said: "I don't want to be too alarmist, but I am concerned that people should be made aware it is a possibility. Hundreds of civilians are employed there and the base makes so much money for the community it would be a tragedy for it to close.

"But it also seems to me that at a time like this when we're fighting a war, the notion of closing a major RAF base is incomprehensible.

"I'll fight this all the way from both a constituency standpoint and in my role as shadow defence minister, because I believe that to put all our eggs in the Brize Norton basket would be a great mistake."

He vowed to bring up the matter in Parliament and urged people to write to Adam Ingram, the Armed Forces Minister, with their views.

When asked about the threat of closure, RAF Lyneham spokesman Flt Lt Tom Draper said: "We are aware of that possibility, but we wouldn't like to speculate on it. We are as much in the dark as anyone else."

RAF Lyneham opened in 1940 as an aircraft storage unit and went on to become the RAF's only tactical transport base and only home of the famous Hercules fleet.