Delight at Woodford decision

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th Jul 2006

Local MP Mark Hunter has expressed his delight at BAE Systems' success in being awarded the multi-million contract to produce Nimrod aircraft thereby securing the future of the Woodford, Stockport site for several years.

The contract award was announced at the Farnborough International Airshow and means hundreds of jobs at the site will be safeguarded for the rest of the decade. The government confirmed on Monday (17th July) that BAE Systems had been awarded the contract for the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft. Work can now get under way to produce a 12 aircraft fleet.

It is estimated that the contract will sustain around 1,000 jobs in total at the site over the next few years and means that the site will remain as an aerodrome for the rest of the decade.

On hearing the news, Mark said:

"This is great news not just for the work force at Woodford but for residents in the wider area too. Not only will it give economic security to a great many families, but local people can take at least some reassurance from the fact that the site will remain used for its current purpose for several more years."

"I congratulate all the staff at Woodford who have worked so hard to get this result."