An American marine base on the Japanese island of Okinawa is to be relocated, according to officials.

The local governor has now given his approval to move Futenma airbase from the centre of Ginowan City to a remote part in the north of the island.

Okinawa is home to over a dozen American military bases and around 26,000 US personnel are stationed on the island.

There has long been pressure from residents for the American footprint to be reduced.

The original agreement to move Futenma came in 1996, after the rape of a local schoolgirl by American servicemen.

It’s estimated it will take around ten years to fully move the base.