Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said cutbacks in core defence programmes to fund £900m of new equipment for troops in Afghanistan over the next three years would help release pressure on the budget.

But there are now fears some of the savings could be made in its civilian staff at sites across the UK, with up to 10,000 jobs at risk.

The MoD site at Norcross currently employs more than 1,000 people.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union says it has not heard from the MoD, but fears Norcross could be hit.

The MoD itself has already hinted it would reduce the number of civilian personnel in order to "release resources for the front line".

Ian Melvin, branch chair for the CPS at Norcross, said: "The union was not consulted on the plans which were leaked to the media rather than being discussed with those affected.

"In discussion with the employer, PCS has put forward a number of suggestions which would save money without damaging essential support to the frontline, including a reduction in the number of non-deployable military personnel, more civilians taking over non-military roles and tackling the billions of pounds wasted on the equipment programme and failed privatisation. Instead, it appears the MoD is seeking arbitrary cuts and base closures. Staff will pay with their jobs for a financial crisis they did not create.

"We will be urging MoD to think again and sit down with PCS and agree a sensible way of delivering savings whilst protecting the frontline."

A MoD spokesman said: "The Ministry will be carrying out an independent review into the shape and size of the civilian workforce.

"We would expect it to recommend reducing the number of civilian personnel.

"There are no plans for any compulsory redundancies."