An announcement is expected on Monday on the future of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency's base at RAF St Athan in south Wales.

The agency has already admitted its considering leaving its headquarters there with a possible move to the west of England.

Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy and Defence Minister John Spellar are aiming to re-assure the workforce that DARA will continue to have a base in the Vale of Glamorgan after much speculation about its future.

This base will not necessarily be at RAF St Athan.

One option is to switch maintenance work to Cardiff International Airport at nearby Rhoose.

The agency is considering moving its headquarters from St Athan to Bath to cut costs but says this should only affect between 40 and 60 jobs out of 3,000.

Whitehall sources say final decisions on the future of the agency may still be some way off.