Milford Haven Coastguard is to close as part of major changes to the service across the UK.

In Wales, Milford Haven and Holyhead are to close as the number of centres across the UK is reduced from 18 to eight.

Although a consultation is to be launched, it is proposed that Milford Haven will close in 2012/13 and Holyhead a year later.

There are currently 23 Coastguard posts at Milford Haven.

The port of Milford Haven is the biggest in Wales and the third largest in the UK.

It handles 25% of the UK's petrol and diesel.

Talking about the threat to the Milford haven Coastguard centre, earlier this week, Rhys Sinnett, Plaid Cymru's Assembly Candidate in Preseli Pembrokeshire said: "Milford Haven is the 4th largest port in the UK. It is an exceptionally busy waterway with the oil refineries and LNG facilities. The idea that there is any chance of us losing our coastguard station has to be strongly opposed.

"The local knowledge of the coastguard officers based here is far more valuable that anything a more remote service could possibly offer and on top of that we absolutely cannot afford to keep losing quality jobs and services from this area. "People along the Haven are already angry that there is even the slightest suggestion of this service being threatened.

"I will be making my opposition to any reduction in the Welsh coastguard service crystal clear and I would encourage the people of Pembrokeshire to put out a loud and clear "SOS" message - our coastguard services are in peril and we have to make sure we save them.

"The local representatives of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties really need to explain where they stand on this astonishing policy. If their Coalition government in Westminster wants to make savings, it needs to look further up the line, where the damage to economy was really done, and not try to penny-pinch by making dangerous and irresponsible cuts here in Pembrokeshire."