MORE details about plans to close the Royal Marines base near Taunton will be revealed in the autumn, it emerged this week.

Norton Manor Camp at Norton Fitzwarren, home to 40 Commando, is set to close in 2028 and will then be sold off for development.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon announced last November that it is one of 56 Ministry of Defence sites being closed - in addition to 35 sites that had been previously announced.

An MoD spokesman today (Wednesday) told the County Gazette: "The plan for Norton Manor Camp remains unchanged from that set out in the Better Defence Estate announcement.

"The MoD’s intention is to relocate the Marine unit as part of the South West consolidation programme and dispose of the site.

“We are commencing an assessment study for this programme, which includes Chivenor in North Devon, and sites in and around Plymouth as well as Norton Manor Camp.

"We will provide an update on the progress of this work in our first annual report to Parliament in Autumn 2017."

It is believed the move will see 40 Commando relocate to the Plymouth area.

Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow was told in November that there will be no job cuts and the project was taken on "military advice2 from the Royal Marines themselves, who see the advantage of being grouped closer with other Commandos.

Meanwhile, 40 Commando celebrated its 75th anniversary with a full-dress uniform parade and families event at the camp on Saturday, when there was also a performance by the Taunton Military Wives Choir.

The Royal Marines exhibited current capabilities, including aircraft, hovercraft and fighting vehicles, while the children's entertainment included go karts, laser shooting and face painting.

Cadets from King's College Taunton's RM CCF section also took part in the formal parade, which was reviewed by Brigadier Richard Spencer, Deputy Commandant General Royal Marines, in front of 1,500 spectators.

40 Commando was formed prior to the Dieppe raid in the Second World War in August 1942 and has been involved in operations across the globe, including Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The unit was given the Freedom of the Borough of Taunton Deane, the highest honour the district council can confer, in 2003 and exercised that freedom by parading through Taunton to a heroes' welcome following the 2007 tour of Afghanistan.