JACK Straw is to step up efforts to win more government aerospace orders to protect jobs and skills in East Lancashire.

The Blackburn MP is to hand a dossier on the importance of the sector to the North West to Cabinet colleagues.

The Foreign Secretary made the promise after he and senior Tory Michael Jack met representatives from British Aerospace and Dennis Mendoros, head of the North West Aerospace Alliance.

They revealed that they were preparing a document making clear the huge importance of the skills base associated with Aerospace in the region and the case for more orders to be given to BAe Systems and its sub-contractors across the area.

As well as Mr Mendoros, BAe Systems provided Nigel Whitehead, boss of their military aircraft division, Gary Lydate, their public relations manager, and Clive Roberts, their head of engineering, for the meeting.

Mr Straw will take the dossier, being prepared by BAe and the Aerospace Alliance, to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

In February BAe Systems announced 1,000 job losses in Lancashire - 500 at Samlesbury and 500 at Warton, in former minister Mr Jack's Fylde constituency, West Lancashire.

There are fears of further job losses in Aerospace, which between BAe and its suppliers is the biggest employer in the private sector in East Lancashire.

After the meeting Mr Straw said: "The Aerospace industry is a vital part of both Britain's and Lancashire's economic future.

"I was therefore delighted to meet with representatives of British Aerospace and Fylde MP Michael Jack to see how we can best promote this industry for the good of people in Lancashire and beyond.

"As MP for Blackburn and Britain's Foreign Secretary, I am backing this jewel in our economic crown."