EAST Lancashire's aerospace companies are bracing themselves for the impact of a global slump in the wake of the US terrorist attacks.

American plane maker Boeing is planning to axe up to 31,000 jobs, amid fears that a dramatic fall in the number of flying passengers will hit orders for new aircraft.

Today, the North West Aerospace Alliance said engineering companies in East Lancashire could be among the first to feel the impact.

Dennis Mendoros, chairman of the Alliance said: "We are well aware that other prime manufacturers are seriously considering a similar line.

"I have no doubt that small businesses will be the first to feel the impact of a reduction in demand for aircraft. We are concerned that the whole economy of the North West could suffer a very serious blow." He said the Alliance would be urging the Government to support the industry through what he described as a very difficult phase.

"We must focus on this support because, without help, the small companies will go first and this will have very serious implications for the large companies," he said.

Mr Mendoros' call for Government support was echoed by John Getty, managing director of PDS Engineering in Nelson, one of hundreds of companies which supply the aerospace industry.

"Whenever there has been a slump in civil aerospace, there has been an up-turn in the military sector which has balanced things out," he said. "This time, I do not believe that will happen and we need help from the Government now.

"Companies in East Lancashire will have to be very cautious about being over-dependent on the aerospace market."

Boeing's commercial aircraft sector employs about 93,000 people from its headquarters in Seattle. Reports from America suggest that up to 30 per cent of those jobs are at risk.

Boeing spokesman Craig Martin said the terror attacks had greatly added to the airline industry's existing problems.

"Given the fact that airlines do not need the capacity, our only reasonable response is to cut back our production significantly," he said.