TOWNS will 'suffer' and lose their military identities say those affected by the closure of three bases in Oxfordshire.

Townspeople have been left saddened by the government move announced yesterday to sell off St David’s Barracks in Bicester, Vauxhall Barracks in Didcot and Dalton Barracks in Abingdon.

The cuts are expected to save £140m but 2040.

Neil Porter, who worked at Dalton Barracks for the MoD for seven years, now organises the Abingdon Air & Country Show.

The 43-year-old said: “It’s bad for Abingdon. Once it goes, part of Abingdon will be dead.

"Abingdon is going to suffer – personally I think it’s disgusting.

"It’s a shame, if I had the money I would try to preserve some part of it. In 12 years we are going to be feeling the impact. We don’t want to see it built on with tens of thousands of houses."

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He added: “Abingdon and the town council needs to rally round, it’s really going to impact the community. It’s a strong military-orientated area. This is bad.”

Seven regiments will be affected across the county including thousands of servicemen and their families.

Bicester Town Mayor Jolanta Lis said she was devastated by the move which would see the 1 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps affected by the closure of St David's Barracks by 2028.

She added: "It is such sad news for our community, also for the families who we have just welcomed in the past 18 months and have been settling in from Germany.

"I understand it is absent and not meant to be until 2028 but it is still very upsetting for the town and the military community.

"It is not just the servicemen but their families too, as well as the civilian jobs that it will also have an impact on.

"Bicester has been a garrison town for a very long time, removing the military from here would completely change its identity."

The closures will take affect in Oxfordshire during 2028 and 2029.