Trespassers putting lives at risk on abandoned RAF base

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‘Urban explorers’ trespassing on an old RAF base left derelict for 25 years are putting their safety at risk, according to Cambridgeshire Police.

The Upwood military site near Ramsey in Cambridgeshire, left to nature more than a quarter century ago, has become the target for vandals to graffiti, start fires and hold parties.

It is quite a recent trend with one councillor saying most of the damage has been done in the last couple of years.

In its cold war heyday the site housed aircraft capable of breaking the sound barrier, with ministers visiting to watch sonic boom testing.

It was a site for sonic boom testing during The Cold War. Credit: British Pathé.

Whilst many of those accessing the site illegally are not causing any damage, police say it is only a matter of time until somebody is hurt.

Due to it being such a large area it's hard to keep trespassers out. Credit: ITV Anglia.

Despite a long planning process – which started in 2012 - the base is expected to be redeveloped later this year with the aim to build 160 houses and a number of business premises.