"Britain has closed down its military communications centre at Gibraltar, wih such responsibilities having been transferred to Faslane in Scotland.

The last signal from 'CommCen Gibraltar' was on Friday; it said: 'I am closing down on all circuits.'

For over 130 years, Gibraltar has been a pivotal link in British military communications maintaning a constant watch - 'from submarine telegraph, through wireless and radio, to computer-controlled automated digital systems,' said a British military spokesman.

Gibraltar has had a permanent physical communications link to the UK since 1870."