Prime Minister Theresa May has been told that it would be a betrayal of the Black Watch if her government closed the barracks at Fort George.

SNP MP Drew Hendry also warned the Conservative leader that the move would be a poor military decision and a “slap in the face” to the Highlands.

Mrs May told him she “recognised the strength” of his views on the issue but said that no decision had yet been taken.

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She also pledged that the Ministry of Defence would engage all groups “impacted by any decisions that are taken of this sort, including in Scotland”.

The MoD is planning to get rid of a third of its estate, in a bid to save billions of pounds.

A decision on Fort George’s future is expected before the end of the year.

Mr Hendry raised the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions after a delegation from the Highlands held talks with military chiefs earlier this week.

After the meeting they said that they had received no assurances from Defence Minister Mark Lancaster, but were hopeful after spelling out the potential loss of 750 jobs and £16million for the local economy.

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Mr Hendry, the MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, asked Mrs May: “Do you agree that any move to close the historic barracks at Fort George would not only be a poor military decision after 250 years of service but a betrayal of the Black Watch and a slap in the face to the Highlands?”

She replied that she “recognised the strength of the view” he had put forward.

“No decisions on Fort George or other locations have been taken, “ she said, adding: “The Ministry of Defence is going to engage with all parties impacted by any decisions that are taken of this sort, including in Scotland.”

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Actor Hugh Grant is among those who has said they are "horrified" the historic Highland military base where his grandfather served as commander could close.