UNION leaders at BAE Systems' plant in Samlesbury have demanded talks with senior management over a threat to up to 400 jobs.

The company is reviewing the future of its Aerostructures business, which is based at Prestwick in Scotland.

If the operation was to close or be sold, the engineering union Amicus fears there could be a knock on effect on jobs in Lancashire.

Union convenor Barry Culshaw said early talks with local management had failed to clarify the position and he was now seeking discussions with the head of the Aerostructures business.

"We want to ascertain just how far down the line they are in reviewing the future of the Aerostructures business," he said.

"The most difficult thing for our members is the uncertainty. More than 350 people are directly employed at Samlesbury within Aerostructures and they want to know what is going on."

BAE chief executive Mike Turner hinted earlier this week that the company was seeking a buyer for the Prestwick factory -- and that it could close if one was not found.

BAE said in a statement that it did not regard its Aerostructures operation as a "core business".

The 1,000-strong workforce in Scotland is said to be shell-shocked by Mike Turner's comments, which came without warning.

Aerostructures' work at Samlesbury, making components for the Airbus passenger jet, represents only a small part of the business.

The vast majority of the 3,500 people employed there work on military aircraft such as the Eurofighter and the Joint Strike Fighter.

Mr Culshaw was also highly critical of BAE management for the way they had handled the announcement.

He said there had been no consultation about any proposed sell-off or possible closure.

"We don't believe they should be making announcements like this in the way they have done," he said.

"There was a time when the consultation process was far better.

"They should have sat us down and explained the reasons for seeking a review of the Aerostructures business."

BAE's statement said: "Aerostructures is a successful and viable business with a substantial order book comprising a number of long-term projects.

"BAE Systems' strategy is to focus on its systems integration businesses and to this end, Aerostructures does not form part of the core.

"The company is therefore reviewing whether the Aerostructures business should remain in BAE Systems ownership or whether the Aerostructures business strategy would be better served as part of another organisation, where it would be a central part of the business."