RAF to shed 3,000 jobs

Nearly 3,000 men and women in the Royal Air Force last night were holding bitter-sweet celebrations in messes around Britain after receiving voluntary redundancy notices in the post. For many, it will mean a new life in civvy street with the prospect of "a golden goodbye" running into thousands of pounds, and a comfortable pension.

But the departures masked low morale in the armed services. The RAF was oversubscribed by twice the required total when it invited volunteers to leave the service as part of the previously announced cuts in defence.