BAE Systems have vowed to stand by their customers in Saudi Arabia despite an Al Qaeda terrorist attack which killed 22 people.

The company, which has plants at Samlesbury and Warton, employs 5,500 people in the Arab state -- including 2,500 UK citizens -- on the multi-billion pound El Yamamah contract for Tornado jet fighters.

Most of the British staff are ex-RAF, though they do include some personnel who have worked at BAEs two Lancashire plants.

In the worst terror attack on Saudi soil in a year, terrorists used hostages as humans shields after an assault on a residential complex in Khobar.

It is believed the attack was aimed at punishing the kingdom for its oil dealings with the United States.

Last year, BAE employee and Lancashire man Robert Dent was killed by a gunman who pulled up alongside his vehicle as he waited at traffic lights in the capital, Riyadh.

Mr Dent, 37, from Tarleton, had lived in Saudi Arabia since 1989 with his two children, Oliver and Grace.

But today BAE spokesman Mike Sweeney, said the company intended to continue working in the Arab state.

He said: "Individuals have to make their own decisions, but we have been in Saudi Arabia since the 1960s and have a long working relationship with the customer and we intend to continue that."

He added: "We do have tight security which has been improved over the last two years.

"Clearly our employees were not involved in these latest incidents, but we are working with the relevant authorities such as the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Saudi authorities. We take their advice and we are in constant dialogue with them,

"Security is constantly reviewed and our employees are kept updated on security information."

The Foreign Office is currently advising Britons against "all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia", but British Airways have revealed that all flights to Saudi Arabia will carry on for the time being.

BA suspended flights to the Middle Eastern kingdom last year, but is continuing with four flights a week to both Riyadh and Jeddah.

A BA spokesman said: "It's business as usual, but we are keeping a close watch on the official Foreign Office travel advice."