THE military air base at Dishforth is to remain open, it was announced this week, ending months of uncertainty about its future.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said there were no plans to axe the base, which is home to a fleet of Apache attack helicopters.

It had been feared that Dishforth might be closed as part of £40m cost-saving by the Ministry of Defence.

A defence document leaked in August suggested its future was under review. Critics said the timing could not have been worse, given the order to send helicopters to Afghanistan - this week saw the first mission.

Mr Ingram, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, said: "Although it is not usually our policy to comment on leaked documents, I can confirm we have no plans to close Dishforth Army base."

Coun John Weighell, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said: "It is extremely good news for North Yorkshire it's staying open. The military establishments of North Yorkshire are a highly important part of the local economy," he said.

The base, home to the 9th Regiment Army Air Corps, was previously used by North Yorkshire Police.

Coun Chris Brown, who covers Dishforth for Harrogate Borough Council, said: "It's brilliant news. We fought to get them there five years ago and now we have kept them there. It would be fairly disastrous if the time came to close it. "

Money has been found to fund overseas military commitments. But the review, drawn up by the Army Land Command Organisation, says £40m of cut-backs may be needed.

Written for Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, commander in chief of Land Command, it states that cost-cutting will mean base closures. It suggests that cost-cutting over the next six months could hamper the Army's operational capability, with reduced ammunition to front-line troops and a smaller repair budget.

A security fence planned at Dishforth has not been built, despite it housing the Apache fleet.

Anne McIntosh, Vale of York MP, pushed the MoD to keep Dishforth as an operational base. "I am delighted it's future has been secured," she said.

"Adam Ingram MP, the Minister for Armed Forces, has confirmed to me the future of the base in North Yorkshire is safe."

Other branches of the Armed Forces face similar cutbacks to help meet the cost of engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a review of military airfields is under way.