Elite unit may leave Scotland

45 Commando Royal Marines could soon be ordered to leave Arbroath, which has been their home for more than a quarter of a century, and relocate south of the border.

Since 1971, when Cold War tensions were running high over the possibility of war against the Warsaw Pact, the Tayside fishing town has been home to the elite combat unit. The mountain and arctic warfare troops were moved to the former Fleet Air Arm base of HMS Condor to be in position for fast deployment for possible war in Europe against the Russians.

Since the end of the Cold War, the role of all UK forces has changed and policy makers are understood to be considering plans to transfer the unit - possibly to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire -as part of a review of all Ministry of Defence property to ensure the best use of resources over the next 25 to 30 years.

But any attempt to withdraw the unit from Arbroath is likely to be defended by the town, which has grown to depend on the marines, many of whom live in the town, send their children to the schools and provide income for businesses.

"The base has a big influence socially and economically - it would be a disaster if the marines were moved," a local councillor, Robert Spink, said.

An MoD spokesman said yesterday that the review was still months from being finalised and any suggestion that the unit was to move was speculation.