A £100 million bid to help the aerospace industry has been launched.

The Consortium of Lancashire Aerospace is joining forces with the Society of British Aircraft Constructors to campaign for Government cash to help develop new technologies.

Dennis Mendoros, re-elected for his fourth term as chairman of the CLA, told members at the Clayton-le-Moors based group's annual meeting: "Compared with the benefits to the national economy over the last 50 years in corporate taxes and taxes on people working in the industry and the aerospace companies themselves, £100 million is not a large amount."

The CLA is also pressing for a new European research and development co-ordination centre to be located in Lancashire.

The centre would form a focal point for all information relating to research and development carried out by companies across Europe.

"It will stop people reinventing the wheel and provide them with a route to licensing agreements or joint ventures."

And in an upbeat review of prospects for consortium members Mr Mendoros said that there was undoubtedly more confidence within the industry and positive signs of increased orders.

The CLA has had its most successful year to date, growing to 130 members.

Tributes were also paid to Ron Bertolini, consortium chief executive, who is retiring. A new chief executive will be announced shortly.

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