Oxfordshire MP Tony Baldry has spoken out against plans to close a Ministry of Defence site near Bicester.

Defence Secretary Des Browne announced on Monday that the Defence Logistics Organisation's base in Caversfield would close within the next four years.

The Defence Logistics Organisation, which uses the base to provide clothing for British troops, moved to the former RAF Bicester site 10 years ago.

Mr Baldry, MP for Banbury, said he had written to Mr Browne outlining his concerns, adding he was worried ministers were trying to hide the full impact of job losses.

Some of the site's 300 jobs will be moved to the Bristol area, but although the MoD said some job cuts would be met through natural wastage, it has not ruled out compulsory redundancies.

Now Mr Baldry has called on the Government to make a statement on redundancies, give a timescale for job transfers, and outline what help will be given to staff at Caversfield.

He said: "It is clear almost 300 jobs will be removed from Caversfield, and this will include direct redundancies. There was no mention of these job losses in the minister's statement, only talk of 'drawdown' at Caversfield.

"Ministers say that this decision will now be subject to consultation with the trade unions, but this rings somewhat hollow when the Government has already purchased late last year land and buildings at Bristol for the DLO.

"Ministers perversely claim that such cuts are being made because the UK faces a new threat and that advances in technology mean that a little kit will go a long way. That is what ministers claim, but few have been convinced.

"Much attention has rightly been paid to the bravery of our armed forces in Iraq. However, there are also unseen heroes, who have worked very hard for long hours, often through the night, to make sure that our troops overseas in the Middle East and elsewhere are properly kitted out.

"They have done that without fuss, at great speed, effectively and efficiently. Many of those unseen heroes work at Caversfield, yet their jobs will now be removed."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the changes would provide a better service for frontline troops.