More than 500 US Air Force (USAF) personnel and their families will move to RAF Fairford by 2023, in a move which is expected to a multi-million pound boost to the local economy.

This morning the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that two squadrons from RAF Mildenhall will be relocated to the Gloucestershire base in the next five years.

It is is expected that the move will bring "substantial" financial benefits to the town and surrounding area as an estimated 1,200 people will move into the area.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP welcomed the announcement and said that welcoming American personnel to the base would be beneficial to the area.

“I am delighted that the Ministry of Defence has made the excellent decision to relocate US personnel to RAF Fairford.

"The presence of over 1,200 personnel and dependents to the area will bring substantial financial benefits to the local economy and our local community.

“I look forward to welcoming all incoming personnel to the Cotswolds and I hope this represents a continuation of our long-lasting and deep military cooperation with our American allies.”

USAF Europe estimates the Mildenhall base has a £230.73m economic impact on the local area.

From RAF Fairford, the USAF personnel - part of the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 488th Intelligence Squadron - will provide the support mission for the RC-135 surveillance aircraft.

RAF Fairford is a huge asset to the Cotswolds and is currently the USAF’s only European airfield for heavy bombers.

The base hosts the the world’s largest military air show - the Royal International Air Tattoo every July.