The rolling out of the new fleet of Nimrod at RAF Kinloss could be delayed until the end of the year, according to an MP.

Angus Robertson, who is the local MP and the SNP's defence spokesman, claims that the hold up in deployment was confirmed by the Ministry of Defence at Westminster on Thursday in a parliamentary answer.

However, the MoD has denied that there will be any additional delays to the delivery of the Nimrods.

An MOD spokesperson said: “There has been no further delay to the delivery of the MRA4 aircraft to RAF Kinloss. The first aircraft has been accepted by MoD and is expected to be released to service with the RAF in Summer 2010.”

The new Nimrod MR4A is due to replace the 30-year-old MR2 that was grounded in March.

The MoD had previously stated that the new aircraft would be delivered this summer.

A number of jobs have been lost at the base due to the withdrawal of the older aircraft, and there are now fears the base could be affected by the government's planned Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Aviation writer Jim Ferguson said any delay could be bad news for both of the north-east’s bases.

“The Defence and Security Review will look at everything with a fine tooth comb. There have got to be doubts over whether the government can afford to keep two - very efficient - airbases (Kinloss and Lossiemouth) within ten miles of each other and I’ve a horrible feeling that this will figure in the equation as well”, he said.

Both bases are major employers in the area and generate considerable amounts to the local economy.