BAE SYSTEMS at Samlesbury has completed the last Airbus leading edge wing assembly to be manufactured on the site.

Because of increasing demand for the Airbus, production has been switched to Prestwick in Scotland. Employees at Samlesbury are continuing to work on the Airbus project, manufacturing other wing components, and £15 million will be invested at both sites over the next few years.

Brian Marks, from Witton, Blackburn, worked on the very first Airbus leading edge assembly in 1985. Sixteen years and some 1,500 wing assemblies later, Brian worked on the last of the 52-feet long components to leave Samlesbury.

"The biggest change over the years has been the increase in build rates due to the aircraft's success, " said Brian.