HUNDREDS of local BAE Systems workers could lose their jobs after aerospace bosses announced large scale redundancies on the struggling Nimrod project.

Around 164 aircraft-related staff at BAE's Warton site are to face redundancy in a move which will affect 1,005 employees nationwide as part of a new restructuring programme.

The Warton plant currently has a workforce of 5,500 people -- 792 work on Nimrod -- and the majority of losses are expected to come directly from the flagging project.

The news comes just weeks after plans were agreed between BAE and the MoD on the future of Nimrod, which suffered a setback surrounding the design of its wing component last year. There will now be a 90 day period of negotiation between BAE Systems and trade union officials who hope to avoid mass redundancies by transferring many of the Warton employees to the Joint Strike Fighter programmed based at Samlesbury.

Fylde MP, Michael Jack, claims this is not the end of the Nimrod project and remains hopeful for many of the Warton employee's future at BAE.

Mr Jack said: "It is always sad to hear negative news from Warton about the Nimrod project.

"BAE Systems have issued assurances that redundancies will be kept to an absolute minimum with many employees being re-deployed to the other areas of the company.

"But on a positive side this could be great news for the Joint Strike Fighter programme which is of great importance to world aerospace development, and would seal Britain's place as a leader in this field.

"The Nimrod project was originally designed to produce a means of airborne surveillance for the military, with the specific purpose of monitoring enemy movements.

"Over time this need has changed and perhaps it is now time to redefine Nimrod's purpose and redesign it, possibly to enable it to carry weapons.

"Either way we should not underestimate Nimrod's potential or close our minds to future employment potential on the project."

Other BAE sites affected by the announcement include Chadderton, Prestwick and Woodford, all of which will be forced to reduce their workforce by hundreds.