DEVONPORT Naval Base could be closed as part of cost-cutting measures being tabled by Royal Navy chiefs, it has been claimed.

Senior naval officers are reportedly ready to shut Plymouth's base — and hand control of the Royal Marines to the Army.

One defence expert last night expressed doubts over the feasibility of the proposals, branding them 'completely insane'.

The Ministry of Defence dismissed the claims as 'speculation', but refused to deny top brass had suggested scrapping Devonport.

The fresh fears follow an all-day meeting on Saturday between Government ministers and the chiefs of all three armed forces.

The Government is currently considering where the axe will fall as part of its ongoing strategic defence and security review — but has warned of deep cuts.

According to the Sunday Times, Navy chiefs have offered to give up Devonport and the Royal Marines to help drive down costs.

City MPs have vowed to lead the fight for the base's future, four years after a spending review first sparked closure fears.

South West Devon MP Gary Streeter told The Herald defence ministers had assured him just last week that Plymouth was safe from closure.

"Everything is on the table in this review but I'm very confident indeed that Devonport Naval Base will remain open," he said.

"We have certainly been assured behind the scenes that Devonport has a future.

"It would be absolutely unacceptable for a decision to be made to the contrary.

"If it was, then myself and [Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP] Oliver Colvile would be leading the fight to save it."

His Tory colleague Mr Colvile said: "There has been a lot of speculation regarding the review which, frankly, is simply creating problems.

"David Cameron has given a commitment to retain all three naval bases, and I can assure you I will fight for Devonport.

"This is all pure conjecture, but we've got to make a very strong case for Plymouth.

"We know the defence budget is tight and I'm taking nothing for granted — but you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be standing up for Plymouth."

Mr Colvile said he had invited Peter Luff, the minister for defence equipment, support and technology, to visit the city to see for himself the huge benefits Devonport offered the armed forces.

Meanwhile, Labour MP for Plymouth Moor View Alison Seabeck described any talk of closure as 'fanciful', and voiced concerns over the review.

"This review is very dramatic because of the pace and the several things they're looking to achieve", she said. "I'm not sure we won't see some problems relating to its haste.

"The MoD is looking to get money and I can't see why they would close Plymouth over Portsmouth.

"We can take everything Portsmouth's got and still cope."

The report — at which members of the naval community have expressed surprise and scepticism — suggested the proposals were set out to ministers by the Navy's most senior serving officer, the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope.

He is said to have offered to sacrifice Devonport in return for the promise that no more of the Navy's 22 frigates would be scrapped.

However, in March Admiral Stanhope told The Herald there were 'no plans' to change the set-up of Devonport Naval Base: and only last week, senior officers from the Russian, French and US navies described the base as 'a tremendous facility' during a multi-national training exercise in the city.

Earlier this month, reports were circulating that Portsmouth Naval Base would be axed.

Plymouth-based defence expert Iain Ballantyne said scaling back operations in Portsmouth remained the most sensible option.

"We're seeing all sorts of crazy proposals put forward as the three armed forces jockey for position in this review," said Mr Ballantyne, editor of the magazine Warships International Fleet Review, "but the idea of closing Devonport is barking mad — completely insane.

"Devonport, the Royal Marines and amphibious assault ships are key components of the present and future Navy.

"If you give away Devonport, which is Britain's key strategic base, you might as well put a 'For Sale' sign on the Royal Navy."

Plymouth City Council leader Vivien Pengelly described the claims as 'very worrying.

"I think it's very sad if senior naval officers have made this suggestion," she said.

"This is something we've been campaigning about for quite a while; now we'll have to campaign even harder.

"Our MPs will have to be going up to London to say closing Devonport Naval Base is not acceptable, and I think everyone in Plymouth must come together to stop it from happening."

The city council's Labour group leader, Councillor Tudor Evans, described it as 'shocking news', while Nick Wadge, regional president and national executive of the Ministry of Defence union Prospect, refused to comment.

The MoD last night moved to pour cold water over the claims.

A spokesman said: "It's all speculation. Nothing has been decided yet. There will be cuts, but nothing is known yet. There are lots of things on the table. This was probably one of many things suggested at the meeting on Saturday."

An announcement on the future of the armed forces is expected before the autumn.