THERE was a big sigh of relief from south Oxfordshire last night after the Government’s Defence Review.

It seems the future of RAF Benson is secure, for the time being.

The base’s key Puma fleet seems to be getting a surprise cash injection, while it looks as if the Merlin crews are staying put as well.

The Ministry of Defence stressed last night that local decisions were still to be made.

But, considering there have been fears about RAF Benson for years, it seems there are positive sounds coming from Whitehall.

Wallingford and Benson community leaders are largely happy.

The impact of hundreds of troops and their families on the local area is hefty.

The economy would have taken a massive hit had they vanished.

However, there are words of caution.

Not least because no firm decisions have been made.

But also because both the Navy and RAF will lose 5,000 jobs each and 7,000 Army posts are to be cut too.

And we don’t yet know where the axe will fall.

Tens of thousands of people are employed in the armed forces in our county.

We hope, but are not entirely confident, Oxfordshire will avoid the worst ravages of the cuts.