A FORMER military wife who now offers invaluable support to the wives and families of 40 Commando at Norton Manor has expressed her sadness at the news.

Sue Burr founded the 4-40 volunteers in 2011 and continues to run it along with 27 other volunteers who offer confidential and non-judgemental advice and practical help when needed.

She said: “We give support when it is needed and we’re sort of like a surrogate granny and grandad for the military wives and their families.

“I know how scary it can be and how alone you can feel as a military wife when your husband is working away and say your car breaks down or something.

“You usually don’t have any family around you and we’re there to offer some support and practical so that they don’t feel alone, but they are a pretty independent lot.

“We were actually at the camp on Wednesday morning with some of the wives, we are all pretty shocked about the news, but some of the wives didn’t even know.

“I think the way the Government has handed the announcement is appalling.

“There’s been a real lack of respect at how the news came out, many wives and marines were unaware of it until they saw the reports in the news.

“A lot of families have settled here, made friends, have jobs and bought houses.

“Many have raised their children here and sent them to playschool right up to college here, they are very disappointed in the news.

“I know that a lot of people have to move in their life but the life of a military wife is very erratic and pressurised and this is all a bit too much.

“We will continue to offer our support to the wives and the families while they are here.”

Mike Rigby, Somerset County councillor for Lydeard which covers Norton Fitzwarren said the news was a shock.

He added: "I think we are all shocked by the announcement, and our MP given her face in the Commons on Monday.

"Norton Manor Camp and the marines are such a big part of the community and I think for everyone the news has created a real emotional wrench.

"The loss of the marines will create a gap that I don't know how we will fill.

"And there is a real concern on how we will fill that gap economically.

"We are losing a big income here, the marines and their families spend a lot of money in our local community, they have jobs here, their children go to schools here.

"What is going to happen to that space?

"There has been talk of housing but that will damage Taunton's economy.

"Over the years we have already lost some big employment areas and this is one of them.

"To consider building more homes, without employment space just doesn't make sense.

"Where are those people going to work and how are those people going to get to the M5?

"We have all these housing plans yet without any plans to improve the highways infrastructure, the relief road in Norton was five years late, and the roundabout in Bishops Lydeard is also four years late.

"A lot of thought must be given to this."