LEYLAND Trucks has been invited to bid for a job-boosting order for more than 8,500 vehicles for the British Armed Forces.

The company, one of Leyland's biggest employers, is one of five to be short-listed for the contract which will be worth a massive £1.4 billion.

The Ministry of Defence said the order for a new generation of trucks was its biggest single vehicle purchase for more than 20 years.

The contract, which also involves supporting the trucks during their 20-year period of service, would be the largest ever to be secured by Leyland Trucks, which is now part of the US-owned Packard group.

And the company will be hoping its reputation for supplying trucks and other military vehicles to the armed forces will help it secure the deal.

The Government's Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach said a decision on the order would be made in the autumn a this year. The first of the new vehicles would be delivered for trials in 2005 before going into service the following year.

"These new vehicles are needed to support our armed forces in the front line," he said. " We wish to buy a wide range of vehicles, ranging from light trucks to heavy lorries, all of which can travel off road.

"This is the biggest single MoD truck procurement order for over 20 years and is a huge opportunity for British industry."

In addition to six-tonne medium-mobility light cargo vehicles, the MoD is looking for nine-tonne trucks, fuel tankers, and recovery vehicles.

Leyland Trucks was a major supplier of military trucks to the Government in the 1990s and orders from the MoD helped secure the future of the company.