The newspaper claims the base, in West End Road, Ruislip, could be sold for housing as part of a wider review of MoD property and the money that could be made to help offset large defence budget cuts.

The report also echoes the Gazette's story, published yesterday, about suggestions in some quarters that the historic RAF base could be used as a satellite runway for Heathrow Airport.

It says Northolt will be included in the consultation on air travel, due to begin in March, and quotes Air Commodore Andrew Lambert of the RAF: "It would be a shame to lose RAF Northolt. I am sure that the site would make lots of money because it is just off the M25 and is a prime bit of real estate, and it is the nearest airport to London.

"But I'd want to know if the MoD has done its sums properly."

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