Hundreds of staff at RAF Cosford whose jobs could vanish under a huge shake-up in defence training will now have to wait until at least the autumn to hear their fate.

Ministers had been due to make a statement on the national defence training review (DTR) in the next few weeks.

But it has now been postponed until after the summer recess of Parliament.

Robert “H” O’Harney, Cosford spokesman for the Public & Commercial Services Union, said the delay confirmed his belief that the project is hanging in the balance.

He claimed last month that the Ministry of Defence was getting cold feet due to significant potential risks with the scheme.

Leaked documents from defence chiefs have highlighted fears that youngsters could end up fighting on the frontline ill-prepared for the realities of war.

There is also concern about value for money for taxpayers and worries there could be a national shortage of skilled trainers as people are unwilling to be uprooted from Shropshire.

The controversy is over proposals for a private sector consortium called Metrix to take over defence training in a contract worth £11 billion.

It would mean the jobs of 800 Cosford civilian trainers being moved to St Athan in South Wales. Although Metrix has been granted preferred bidder status, a final announcement has not yet been made by ministers.

Mr O’Harney said: “It would seem that the uncertainties expressed by local MPs Mark Pritchard and David Wright are going to continue long into the autumn since Parliament doesn’t recess until September. This means sadly that the staff at Cosford will have to wait even longer to know their fate.”