The UK government has decided to withdraw funding for the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, prompting warnings that all scientific work at the UK's largest telescope could cease within two years. The University of Manchester, which owns the site, is now searching for alternative funding before the cuts take effect in 2028, while astronomers have condemned the decision as "short-sighted" and damaging to Britain's research standing.

The funding, withdrawn by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), threatens 28 jobs and the work of thousands of scientists who rely on the observatory's data. Jodrell Bank, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the 250ft Lovell Telescope, built in 1957 by Sir Bernard Lovell and once the largest radio telescope in the world; it links with the UK's e-MERLIN network to study black holes, galaxies and spacecraft. The cut comes as the international Square Kilometre Array project in South Africa and Australia prepares to begin gathering data within five years, with experts warning the UK risks losing out on that scientific opportunity without continued investment in Jodrell Bank.