COMMENTS made by the Prime Minister Tony Blair last week have been seen by many as the clearest indication yet that RAF Lyneham may be saved from closure.

But the station's acting commander, Wing Commander Guy Edwards, has warned his airmen and women not to raise their hopes too high.

Last Wednesday, during Prime Minister's Question Time, North Wiltshire Conservative MP, James Gray, asked Mr Blair to comment on the important role played by RAF Lyneham in the ongoing Iraq conflict.

But instead of merely praising the base, the Prime Minister, went one better, saying that he had "no doubt" that RAF Lyneham would play a "very important" role in future conflicts.

While many people are seeing this as a clear indication that the threatened base is to get a reprieve, Wing Commander Edwards has told staff to be cautious in their celebrations.

"People have obviously been very excited and enthusiastic about the Prime Minister's comments, but I have to say that I have been trying to dampen down those expectations," he said.

"The cut and thrust of his comments are interesting, but it is important to remember that while the Prime Minister has praised our work in conflicts to date, he has not said what role the base will be playing in the future, or for how long.

"Most importantly, he has not said whether there will even be an airfield here in the future.

"I believe that the findings of the review panel have now been forwarded to the Ministry of Defence, but that review has not even hit Defence Minister Geoff Hoon's desk yet.

"And although I know that people are anxious to know what is going to happen, I would dissuade anyone from seeing this as a cause for celebration."

MP James Gray was more optimistic, however. A long-standing campaigner for the base, he told of how he posed his question to the Prime Minister on Wednesday primarily to trap him into praising the base, should the decision eventually be made to close it.

Mr Gray said: "The Prime Minister saw through my trap and went even further.

"This is the clearest indication yet that we have a sensible future for the base. And although it is not time to open the champagne, I am encouraged."

RAF Lyneham is under review along with RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and St Mawgan in Cornwall.

A decision on their future was expected a month ago, but was put on hold because of the Iraq conflict.

While uncertainty still surrounds the fate of Lyneham, crews are continuing to play a vital role in Operation Telic.

In recent months, the station has been responsible for a huge number of transport missions to the Gulf.

Thanks to its Hercules fleet, the British Armed Forces took just six weeks to mount the Iraq operation, as opposed to the seven months it took during the first Gulf war.

Last week's comments were not the first time Tony Blair has shown his support for the job performed by the 800-strong workforce. Last month, he and his wife, Cherie Booth QC, visited the station and met families of aircrew serving in the Gulf.

Wg Cdr Edwards, however, remained steadfast in his appeals for staff not to read too much into his comments.

"The Prime Minister is very aware of the role we are playing and has recognised that, but it is important not to link our role this year with the eventual decision by the MoD," he said.

"The air transport formation could very different in ten years' time.

"Of course we hope the decision will come sooner, rather than later, so we can put an end to the uncertainly which surrounds us."

But the uncertainty over the future of the base looks set to continue for some time.

This week, an MoD spokesman revealed it could be up to two months before the base's fate is known.

The spokesman said: "No decision has yet been made and though it could be earlier, it may be two months before the announcement is released."