Lancashire workers played a pivotal role in developing an ejector seat for a world-leading fighter jet.

Engineers at BAE Systems’ plant in Samlesbury worked on the escape system for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

It will help pilots escape during dangerous situations and will be fitted in more than 3,000 aircraft.

The rear fuselage of the US-led F-35 - set to be the world’s first £1billion fighter aircraft - are manufactured at Samlesbury.

They are then shipped to America to be assembled by lead contractor Lockheed Martin.

Chris Garside, BAE’s chief engineer on F-35, said: “This is a major achievement.

“The system has consistently performed as expected through a progressive series of tests.

“The escape system standard that underwent the final tests is now being implemented into the production aircraft.”