Lyneham villagers celebrated “like they had won the FA Cup” when they heard that the RAF base would be replaced by a military training centre.

Community groups, schools and businesses had been living with uncertainty since the announcement in 2002 that the base would close.

Since then MP James Gray and many around the village and the wider area have been campaigning for it to remain a military facility.

There was jubilation when the news came through on Monday that at least 1,500 personnel would be coming to Lyneham.

“We were flicking through the channels on the television in the pub,” said Andy Humm, who runs the village website, “then when Liam Fox made his announcement everyone just started cheering.

“It was like we had won the FA Cup. There was a huge sense of relief and everyone thinks it is a positive move.

“Before the announcement there was a bit of doom and gloom around. We knew he was going to put most of the Army garrison in Scotland so people were worried. But the news is such a huge boost to the area.”

Debbie Haggerstone, 29, bar manager at the Mallard pub, took a cautious view.

She said: “The general reaction has been very good.

“But I think the worry is the fact that it isn’t going to be up-and-running for more than two years so there will be a gap where it is empty.

“We have already seen our takings drop significantly since the RAF squadrons moved out, so it may be a tough year or two for a lot of small businesses before it reopens.”

Wootton Bassett town crier Owen Collier said: “I hope it brings more employment to the town I hope we can have a strong working relationship with the training centre.”