ROLLS-ROYCE, which has a factory employing a thousand people in Barnoldswick, has revealed it has had a record order book of £26.1billion over the last financial year.

The firm has posted its preliminary financial results for 2006, which also show a profit before tax of £705million, up 19 per cent. And the firm is confident for a strong year in 2007.

Sir John Rose, chief executive, said: "For 2007, we are confident that the measures we are taking to improve productivity, coupled with the underlying growth of the Group and the robust business model, will enable us to continue to grow underlying revenues and profits and generate a positive cash flow."