JODRELL Bank and its linked mid Cheshire satellite dishes could be closed next year to save money.

Officials have threatened to withdraw funding for the observatory's flagship project the Merlin array, which includes dishes in Pickmere and Darnhall.

Most of Jodrell Bank's work is centred on this array, which uses seven telescopes across the country at a cost of £2.7million a year.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council wants to stop paying for the project because of an £80million shortfall in Government funding.

Dr Tim O'Brien, head of outreach, said the UK could now miss out on being the nation that explained how the universe was created.

"Radio astronomy was pioneered in the country over 60 years ago," he said.

"It is a subject for which we have a bright future. It can provide a window on the invisible universe.

"Other parts of the world will now continue to do this work, but we may not."

Jodrell Bank worked for seven years and spent £8million to upgrade Merlin.

New links between the telescopes - set to go online this year - would have made it the world's most powerful array.

Dr O'Brien said: "Scrapping that would be a monumental waste of time, effort and money."

The Lovell Telescope is a grade I listed structure so it would have to be saved but the 250ft dish might not remain operational.

A consultation will end on March 21 and the Science and Technology Facilities Council will then decide what to do.

Jodrell Bank is now looking for alternative ways to fund projects.

Click on the link below to sign the petition to save the Jodrell Bank array.