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An old US Navy P-3 Orion aircraft left at the Airport when the US Naval Air Station closed three years ago is now being cut up and demolished after Airport chiefs decided it did not fit in with the facility's new image.

The plane has been used for training by the Airport's fire service since it was abandoned.

Trainee aviation manager Andrew Soares said: "When people were landing and taking off, the first thing they were seeing was this dilapidated, burnt out old aircraft.

"We are spending $10 million on airport improvements and this wasn't the picture we wanted to present.

"We decided that the best thing to do was to demolish it. It's being cut up and the pieces taken to the airport's metals dump about 500 yards away.'' The Airport's rescue team are using special cutters to dismantle the aircraft.

Work is expected to be completed within two weeks.