A RIBBLE Valley businessman's company is helping the country protect itself as fears of a terrorist attack in Britain mount.

Richard Bailey, chief executive of Huddersfield-based Aire Group, helped invent special decontamination tents and chemical protection suits used in the aftermath of the September 11 atrocity.

And this year, Richard, of Hurst Green, says his company has had its busiest year yet as Government officials dictate that local authorities have measures in place to deal with large scale terrorist attacks involving chemicals, poisons or radioactive material.

Fire and ambulance services have been the biggest customers as they would be the in the front line for evacuation and rescue missions should such an event occur.

Richard said: "As the world is getting nastier the busier we become. Every day is a new beginning with new dangers. But if anyone is intending to blow up something then there is not a lot we can do apart from be vigilant."

The shelters work by inflating quickly and have an airlock and pressure system which keeps out contamination. It won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in the UK last year.

Also in the Aire group's portfolio are special hoods with air filters, which were used to protect people from the SARS virus. Inflatable shelters are used at music festivals as hospitality suites for stars and in 1997, they made the world's largest inflatable garage for the Thrust supersonic car when it broke the world land speed record and sound barrier.