NORTH Yorkshire County Council has thrown its weight behind a campaign to relocate the Red Arrows to North Yorkshire.

With closure of their present home at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire due in 2022 as part of planned savings of £140m by 2020, RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire is emerging as a frontrunner to house the world-famous display team.

Last month Richmond MP Rishi Sunak wrote to the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson asking him to consider the benefits of a move to North Yorkshire. The base at Leeming is at the centre of the country and 100 Squadron which already based there uses the same Hawk mark 1 aircraft as the Red Arrows.

Now the leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Cllr Carl Les has added the county’s support for the move.

At the Richmond Area Constituency meeting at Cllr Les’s suggestion the body unanimously voted to write in support of the MP’s proposal. Last week at NYCC’s cabinet meeting members voted to add the county council’s voice of support for the move and have written to the Secretary of State urging him to give it his backing.

Cllr Les said: “It makes sense for the Red Arrows to move to North Yorkshire; there is room for them and they use the same aircraft as RAF Leeming.

“Any move to North Yorkshire would bring obvious benefits in terms of tourism and visitors."

Cllr Les was also at pains to reassure residents that they would face little or no increased aircraft noise. He explained: “The Hawk is a relatively quiet aircraft.

“In winter the team practice in Cyprus and during the display season often stay near the venue for several days.”

Plane enthusiasts were given false hope recently when one of the iconic red-painted aircraft was seen for several days at RAF Leeming. However it was later established the aircraft was only visiting for routine repairs. It is expected a decision should be made in 2019 regarding the future of the top display team.