MORE than 200 jobs are to go at North Yorkshire's frontline fighter base, as cutbacks in the Armed Forces begin to bite.

A total of 215 service and 20 civilian posts will be lost at RAF Leeming over the next three years, it was revealed today.

Many of those affected will be transferred elsewhere and not replaced, but there are expected to be some redundancies. Those involved are logistical rather than flying staff.

John Weighell, North Yorkshire County Council leader, said: "Although some of these were expected, it's very bad news for the local economy.

"Regardless of whether they are service or local jobs, they spend their money in a fairly wide area, which benefits the economy."

He said the cuts would have a huge impact on pupil numbers in schools at the airbase and in Bedale.

The RAF is bearing the brunt of national cutbacks, with 7,500 personnel leaving the force over the next three years. They were first forecast in a Ministry of Defence Future Capabilities White Paper.

But Susan Latter, who represents Leeming Bar on Hambleton District Council, said she did not feel the local economy would be so badly hit by this decision.

"There will be an effect, but I don't think it will be too bad. The economy is pretty buoyant around here and unemployment is low."

Updated: 10:33 Friday, March 11, 2005