AEROSPACE workers were today waiting for news of a multi-million pound order which would help safeguard thousands of jobs in Lancashire.

BAE Systems is negotiating to sell the Indian government 24 Hawk training aircraft as part of a huge deal for the Indian Air Force to acquire 66 new jets.

Union leaders said the deal would be "fantastic news" for BAE factories, including Samlesbury and Warton, near Preston, and Brough in East Yorkshire. BAE employs around 2,000 people in Samlesbury, near Blackburn, and 4,000 at Warton.

Keith Plumber, chairman of the works committee at Samlesbury, said: "It would be super news for the workforce. Hopefully it would guarantee jobs in the future and bring a more positive outlook."

The Indian Air Force is seeking trainer planes to help pilots prepare to fly sophisticated fighter aircraft.

Defence Minister George Fernandes said the first deliveries could start three years after the contract is signed.

A BAE Systems spokesman said: "Contract negotiations are still on-going. We're not at the stage where we can sign a contract yet."

The planes would be made at Brough before being transferred to Warton for final assembly and test flying.

Samlesbury would supply a small number of parts for the aircraft.