COUNTY council leader Louise Ellman has welcomed the news that the long-awaited Eurofighter project finally looks like getting off the ground.

The Government announced at the Farnborough Air Show that it was backing the project and doing its best to persuade partners Germany, Italy and Spain to do the same.

And Mrs Ellman also praised the country's continued commitment to the multi-billion pound project.

Despite criticisms in recent week over soaring costs and production delays, Britain is set to buy 232 of the planes at a cost of around £15 billion.

If the other partners give the go-ahead, production will start next year on the £40 billion scheme. The project will protect thousands of jobs at BAe sites in Samlesbury and Warton and £100 million is to be invested in the Samlesbury site alone.

Mrs Ellman said: "Lancashire County Council has always given its full backing to the European Fighter Aircraft project to protect jobs, skills and high technology in the county.

"Lancashire is the fourth most defence-dependent region in Europe. Lancashire's aerospace industry directly employs more than 21,000 people, 15 per cent of the county's manufacturing workforce.

"Last year the industry paid Lancashire people salaries of £415 million.

"A quarter of aerospace production in the country comes from the county."

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