More than 60 civilian jobs will be lost with the closure of part of Copthorne Barracks in Shrewsbury, a Government minister has confirmed.

All 63 civilian jobs at the Headquarters 5th Division, which is based at the barracks but is due to shut down in April 2012, will go as the Ministry of Defence gets rid of 440 employees across the country as part of a restructuring exercise.

In a written statement, Minister of State for the Armed Forces Nick Harvey said: “This restructuring will remove 440 civilian posts from our regional force structures at both Division and Brigade levels, and their supporting units.

“The following civilian posts will be cut in each of the Divisional Headquarters.

“These losses, which were included in the reduction target announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review White Paper, will be offset by the creation of a number of posts in the new Support Command Headquarters in Aldershot.”

The MoD announced earlier this year it was restructuring its regional divisions, with a new headquarters to be set up in Aldershot.

As part of the change, Headquarters 5th Division at Shrewsbury, along with Headquarters 2nd Division at Edinburgh and Headquarters 4th Division at Aldershot will be shut down.

In November, it was revealed that 71 military posts will also be going at Copthorne Barracks as a result of the restructuring – meaning that a total of 134 jobs will be going.

Structural changes will also be made at the 10 regional brigades, and to Headquarters London District, to gain further savings.

Headquarters 2nd Division at Edinburgh will lose 103 civilian jobs and Headquarters 4th Division at Aldershot will lose 82 civilian jobs as part of the change.

However, the newly created Headquarters Support Command will bring 104 new civilian jobs.

Mr Harvey added: “Civilian staff declared surplus will be placed in the Department’s redeployment pool and given assistance to find an alternative post.”

Last month, Councillor Peter Nutting, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said the job losses at the barracks would be a ‘severe blow’ to the local economy.

He said he hoped the MoD would be able to find some other work on the site to replace what was going to be lost.