Anglia Defence

The Prime Minister says the government's review of defence spending is good news for RAF Marham in Norfolk.

David Cameron has announced £12 billion for military equipment in a Strategic Defence and Security Review. The SDSR set out heavily-trailed plans for two new Army 5,000-strong "strike brigades" capable of deploying rapidly around the world.

RAF Marham is the home to the Tornado force and the future home of the Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

The Prime Minister said the additional defence spending would mean more Lightning aircraft, more quickly. He was answering a question in the House of Commons from the North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham.

Armed Forces Day has been marked with events taking place across our region. In Corby, a town square was re-named to honour Lance Corporal James Ashworth who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for the bravery he displayed storming an insurgent position whilst on duty in Afghanistan.

The region is to lose its only air sea rescue base as part of a radical reshuffle of the service.

The base at Wattisham in Suffolk has been home to 2 RAF Sea King helicopters covering the East coast.

Now the private firm Bristow is to take over the service from the armed forces, and the Wattisham operation will move to Manston in Kent.

It's been confirmed that Britain's fleet of Tornado warplanes will go out of service in 2019. RAF Marham in Norfolk is one of two bases in the UK that currently operate the Tornado.

Last month defence chiefs hinted that Marham will be the UK base for the new generation of fighter jets, the Lightning 11. Our Political Correspondent Emma Hutchinson reports.