Wing plant 'important for UK

During a visit to the firm's base in Broughton, Secretary of State for Wales Paul Murphy praised the achievements of the plant and suggested its benefits extend beyond the local area, according to the Evening Leader.

Mr Murphy told the newspaper: "This plant is hugely important for North Wales but also for the UK as a whole.”

"It is the single most important manufacturing facility in Wales and is vital economically, industrially and socially" added Murphy.

This plant is hugely important for North Wales but also for the UK as a whole

Paul Murphy

Secretary of State for Wales

He also highlighted the ongoing expansion of the plant and the innovation that is presented by the base, saying he is "always staggered" by the scale of the work it undertakes.

The Broughton plant is currently bidding for an £18 billion contract with the US air force, to make wings for its tanker fleet, in addition to other work it carries out such as manufacturing wings for the A380 superjumbo.

According to International Business Wales, the country's aerospace and defence sector employs around 20,000 people, with firms such as BAE Systems, GE Aviation and General Dynamics establishing bases there in addition to Airbus.