SCRAPPING a Plymouth frigate which is currently playing centre-stage in the Libyan conflict has been described as "utter madness".

Former military top brass and politicians have blasted the Government's intention to persevere with decommissioning HMS Cumberland next month, despite her vital role.

It comes as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) last night gave the Type 22 frigate a temporary reprieve – but only for a "few weeks" before she is replaced.

For the past six days the ship has been at the forefront of action against Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi helping to provide Britain's maritime force off the shores of the troubled country.

General Sir Peter Whiteley, a Plymouth-based former Commander in Chief of Allied Forces in Northern Europe, today led the calls for a Government re-think.

Sir Peter, who is also a former head of the Royal Marines, said: "It's utter madness. It's madness us doing away with HMS Illustrious, HMS Ark Royal, the Harriers and the Type 22s.

"When we are faced with the constant threat of piracy, a problem with Libya and an un-winnable war in Afghanistan, we shouldn't be throwing things away.

"I think it's a case of poor planning."

His thoughts were echoed by Commodore Graham Edmonds, the former commander of HMS Cambridge – the gunnery school at Wembury.

The 63-year-old who served on 12 warships during a 42-year career in the Royal Navy, said: "Given the number of crises around the world the Royal Navy has insufficient surface ships to meet the tasks it is faced with.

"And these are standard tasks. There are also problems brewing elsewhere, such as the Falkland Islands.

"If the navy is expected to fulfil its tasks, plus any others, then it simply does not have enough ships.

"We should be keeping what we have going, and not decommissioning them. It's not a huge financial burden to maintain them.

"It's down to poor planning by the National Security Council."

During a visit to Plymouth yesterday Jim Murphy MP, shadow Secretary of State for Defence, said: "What is happening in North Africa opens up questions we have not thought about.

"We need to come up with a different idea rather than simply decommissioning HMS Cumberland now.

"Of course the MoD needs to make savings but getting rid of Cumberland now is not right.

"I would ask the Government to stop and think again about HMS Cumberland which is doing a brilliant job."

Alison Seabeck, Plymouth Moor View MP, said: "It is entirely right we should have a complete moratorium.

"We cannot revisit the SDSR while we are in Libya but in light of the role HMS Cumberland is being required to do there is clearly a need to rethink her decommissioning."

Families were due to attend a homecoming event for the frigate next Thursday morning at Devonport Naval Base.

But that date has now been scrapped.

The mother of a 32-year-old sailor currently serving on the frigate, said: "We were expecting her next week but that has now been cancelled because of what's going on in Libya."

The woman from St Budeaux, who did not wish to be identified, added: "His father and I didn't expect him home because of the Libya situation.

"And we know he will understand that a job needs to be done. That's service life. It seems absolutely ridiculous to me to get rid of the frigates."

An MoD spokesman confirmed the position last night stating: "HMS Cumberland is being kept in the region for a few weeks until she's replaced by another Royal Naval frigate to ensure there's no gap in UK capability.

"There are no plans to extend her service further."

Tory MP for South West Devon Gary Streeter said of the announcement: "I hope it will be the start of a major rethink of scrapping naval vessels.

"I think recent events have demonstrated we need to make a greater investment in defence not less."

HMS Cumberland and Devonport-based submarine HMS Triumph have both been involved in action against Libya. HMS Triumph has been bombarding targets, firing Tomahawk cruise missiles since the weekend.

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