AEROSPACE companies in East Lancashire will be sharing in a £60million windfall through new contracts picked up at the Farnborough International Air Show.

Dennis Mendoros, Chairman of the Nelson-based North West Aerospace Alliance, said member companies were well on track to hit their target for new sales at the world's biggest air show.

Aerospace companies from throughout the region are at Farnborough this week discussing deals that will keep manufacturing jobs in East Lancashire.

"There is a lot of confidence in the industry," said Mr Mendoros. "The last time we were at Farnborough was in 2002 in the aftermath of September 11 when the entire industry was struggling.

"This year we have set the target for our companies to pick up £60million of new orders from the show within the next few months. We are comfortably on track."

One of the first companies to announce the deal was Ribble Valley manufacturer Hurst Green Plastics which makes hi-tech storage systems for the components used in the Aerospace industry.

It has signed an order to supply its Twin Binsystem for the Joint Strike Fighter programme which is the world's biggest ever defence contract.

Steve Clarke, managing director of Hurst Green Plastics, said: "To get this order during the Farnborough Air Show is a great boost for us. With a number of requests for quotations out at the moment, this provides the foundation for another successful show."

Hurst Green Plastics is one of 50 North West companies exhibiting on the Alliance pavilion, which was officially opened by Prince Andrew.

Mr Mendoros said East Lancashire provided world-class aerospace manufacturing. "We combine investments in the latest technologies with the outstanding skills and technical know-how of our people," he said.

"Events such as Farnborough give the North West an opportunity to show exactly why it is at the forefront of the aerospace industry."