A SCOTTISH company looks set to buy Burnley's ailing Lucas Aerospace factory - a move that could save around 100 remaining jobs at the Heasandford estate plant.

Privately-owned engineering and plastics group Motherwell Bridge, of Motherwell, says it is in the final stages of negotiation to take over the works.

Spokesman Mr Jim Calwell sad if the talks were fruitful, Lucas would become part of the Scottish company in early August and would be renamed MB Aerospace.

Motherwell Bridge is a 100-year-old company which already has interests in Warrington, Stockport and Leeds.

It has contracts with most major British firms and has large contracts with British Nuclear Fuels.

Lucas once employed several thousand workers in Burnley, but the only remaining aerospace factory now employs fewer than 100 following many years of closures and contraction.

In April the firm announced a further 67 workers would be made redundant and jobs phased out by the end of October.

At that time the company was in negotiation with local businessman John Getty for a takeover of the plant.

Today a Lucas spokesman said the company was looking at the future of the Burnley factory, but could make no further comment.

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