An offer has been made to buy Manston Airport and keep it as a working air hub.

The move was revealed by North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale who announced it tonight.

Earlier this year the site was threatened with closure with estimates that the airport has been losing £10,000 a day.

It was bought in October by the co-founder of the Stagecoach Group, Ann Gloag, who paid a sum of £1 for it, buying it off New Zealand company Infratil.

Since news of the closure emerged KLM withdrew flights and an earlier offer by an unnamed buyer to acquire the airport was withdrawn.

But tonight Mr Gale, who has spearheaded efforts to get a sale said: "In the light of the ongoing concern about the future of Manston and the obvious distress and concern that this is causing to our constituents employed there I have today telephoned the company with whom I met last week.

"They have confirmed that they have, following discussions with the owner of the airfield, Mrs Gloag, now submitted a formal offer to purchase the business as a going concern."

He added that it did not mean that an offer had been accepted, adding: "I hope and expect that common sense and fairness will now prevail.

"And as a result an agreement will be reached that will enable Manston to remain open and operational and to realise its potential."

He also stressed that any agreement will take time to finalise and legalise. He added that Mrs Gloag had indicated that she did want to sell.

"I would hope and expect that any differences between seller and buyer will be resolved," Mr Gale added.

In March, Mr Gale had urged the government to step in over the impending closure.

Around 150 jobs are likely to be lost if it does shut.