BRITISH Aerospace reported a third year of big losses but the group, which employed 10,000 workers, said it had cleared the way for future growth.

The company had sacked 3,000 Lancashire staff in the previous four years.

It had had a turbulent year with the £800 million sale of Rover and the departure of chairman John Cahill with a £3million-plus pay-off.

Ten years ago: Police Freemason blast

A ROW blew up over police joining the Freemasons after County Councillor John Entwistle said the two organisations were incompatible.

Links between police and the Masons were revealed during a crown court trial of two businessmen after an incident during a Masonic dinner dance at the Moat House Hotel.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.