The UK defence minister will be urged not to close Fort George army base at a meeting in London on Monday.

Inverness MP Drew Hendry and Highland council leader Margaret Davidson are meeting Mark Lancaster to put forward the case for saving the 18th century barracks.

Fort George has been in continuous operation since its completion in 1757 at Ardersier.

The base has been home to the Black Watch 3rd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland since 2007.

Hendry said: "The threat looming over Fort George puts up to 750 jobs and the £16m at risk in our local economy.

"Together we will highlight the devastating impact closure would have on our local community.

"We already know, from MoD's own figures that Fort George is its most cost-effective base.

"This coupled with the news that in the last three years, over £30m has been spent on Fort George and Kinloss, makes any suggestion that there is a financial case for closure untenable."

He added: "Anything short of unequivocal assurances from the minister that the base is no longer under threat will be unacceptable.

"The MoD must put an end to this uncertainty once and for all."

A spokesperson for the MoD said: "As part of an ongoing review, we are aiming to create a smaller and better defence estate that effectively supports our armed forces in the important role they play.

"The MoD is considering how it might achieve this and no final decision about the future of Fort George has been made at this time."