A SERIES of historic buildings at Wroughton Airfield will not be demolished as part of the Science Museum redevelopment.

Museum head Steve Briggs has made the reassurance in response to queries from a new national airfield charity.

Kenneth Bannerman, director general of the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust, appealed to the Science Museum to recognise Wroughton's treasures.

He said: "Some locals remain worried and unconvinced that priceless existing buildings such as Wroughton's distinctive control tower are free from the threat of demolition."

"Wroughton is a truly vital place in military, economic and social ways.

"The control tower, hangars and other support buildings could be easily saved and employed for alternative uses as already happens at other disused airfields throughout Britain."

The charity was launched earlier this year, and Mr Bannerman has seen other heritage buildings demolished.

He said: "We are trying to get memorials set up at every airfield in Britain, so that people can at least know what was there.

"We have to get out of the state of mind where history is only viewed in aesthetic terms. Wroughton is an achiever and a winner."

Mr Briggs said: "We have carried out extensive public engagement work, looking into issues relating to our buildings.

"Following this we made the decision to retain and improve the original buildings that we have on our site, including the hangars and support buildings.

"As a consequence the original infrastructure and heritage of our site has been integrated into our masterplan with the value and the importance of these historic buildings fully recognised."

For more about the airfields trust, visit www.abct.org.uk.