FUEL shortages have meant that many Blackpool businesses have decided to take to the skies. The Blackpool Airport-based Helicentre has had to set up a rapid response team to meet the unprecedented demand for urgent flights.

As the local and nationwide situations worsen, helicopter flight bookings have soared as many people and companies take to the skies to avoid the gridlock on the ground.

Bookings have soared by almost 50 per cent over the past two days for passenger flights as business executives find new ways of getting to important meetings.

And demand for freight flights has taken off by more than 40 per cent as the Helicentre transports urgent supplies around the country. Andrea Brown, the Helicentre's business development manager, said: "Many people are surprised and find that flying important parts and supplies or making essential deliveries by helicopter is not as expensive as they might have expected.

"We have also received enquiries from several businesses who have grouped together to look at flying equipment or people short distances. By road the journey, such as from St Annes to Southport, may take an hour or more whereas by helicopter it is only five minutes."

Helicentre bosses have sufficient fuel supplies to keep its fleet of more than 15 helicopters flying for the next two to three weeks.

Special arrangements are also being made to ensure that the company's staff of 35 are able to get to work each day.