JACK Straw has promised bosses and workers at BAE Systems in Lancashire that he will step up efforts to secure more military and civil aircraft orders for the company.

The Blackburn MP is continuing to lobby the Ministry of Defence for an early go-ahead for the vital second tranche of Eurofighter Typhoon orders.

And he said that there was no proposal to cut the 89 planes earmarked for the RAF.

Mr Straw also pledged to seek more civil aircraft orders and to keep up the pressure for further military aircraft work for the company.

Mr Straw yesterday visited the firm's Samlesbury site and saw some of the production facilities for the Eurofighter Typhoon and also plans for the future Joint Strike Fighter both of which will be partially made at the factory and its counterpart at Warton in the Fylde.

His visit followed the announcement of the loss of 1,000 jobs in the two factories over the coming year.

Mr Straw met Nigel Whitehead, the group managing director for Air Systems, Martin Taylor, the programme director for Eurofighter Typhoon and Frank Hayden, the director of the Samlesbury factory.

Also present were Trade Union conveners Neil Sheehan, Barry Culshaw, Mark Allen and Derek Poyner. After the 90-minute meeting Foreign Secretary Mr Straw said: "I am obviously concerned about the redundancy programme which is caused by the downturn in international orders.

"I made it quite clear how important I felt it was to maintain this highly skilled manufacturing capacity which is vital to East Lancashire."

Union officials and management praised Mr Straw's visit. Nigel Whitehead, group managing director of Air Systems at BAE Systems' Samlesbury site, said: "I am sure the employees who met Mr Straw are appreciative of his interest in the company and their future."