Local leaders who recently toured RAF Barnham with Home Office officials were told some work could be carried out “at risk”.

This means public money could be spent on the East Anglia site, based just outside of Norfolk's border, before it is known whether the area will be used.

They were also told the decommissioned base currently has only 320 bed spaces, leaving a shortfall of more than 900 - and the gap could be even wider.

Local leaders have revealed the "dirty" state of the base after they were invited for a tour (Image: Home Office/PA Wire)

Home Office officials had privately described the 1,250 figure as an “illustration” and admitted the true number “could be a lot more”.

But the visit has laid bare the tired state of the ageing Cold War-era base, with one parish councillor telling of peeling walls inside "dusty and dirty" barrack blocks.

One of the rooms inside the base (Image: Home Office/PA Wire)

The inside of one of the buildings at the base (Image: Home Office/PA Wire)

It comes after the EDP revealed earlier this year that the cost of preparing the base was at risk of running into millions, with sources warning the scheme could yet be scrapped.

Officials are also said to have told the visiting party that some work could be carried out "at risk" meaning public money could be spent on works before it is known whether the site will be used.

While no final decision has been made, there are growing fears in the Suffolk village of Barnham and neighbouring Thetford that preparations are already under way.

Contractors were seen working on a waste........

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