by David Jones

More than 800 staff at a military research centre in Kent face tough choices after being told the complex is to close.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Fort Halstead, near Sevenoaks, is shutting down following a "review of operations."

The 840 employees learned last week their jobs are being relocated to Dstl's other sites at Portsdown West near Portsmouth, or Porton Down, near Salisbury.

The Fort Halstead scientists specialise in a wide range of work on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, including forensic science analysis into explosives.

They are experts in in battlefield technology and counter-terrorism, in particularly the bomb-making capabilities of groups like al-Qaeda and, previously, the IRA.

Dstl, which is an agency of the Ministry of Defence and accountable to the taxpayer, says the relocation will take about five years.

A spokesman said: "By bringing together facilities and capabilities, the programme will result in more robust and resilient scientific support to national defence and security and will offer better value to the taxpayer. “

About 670 jobs will be relocated to Porton Down and about 170 to Portsdown West.

A Dstl spokesman said today that no jobs were being lost but it would be up to individual employees whether they wished to move.

Dstl is a major employer in the Sevenoaks area. Local politicians

have been shocked by the news that the town is to lose so many highly-skilled jobs.