Jet on display at Samlesbury BAE site damaged by starlings (From Preston and Leyland Citizen)

Jet on display at Samlesbury BAE site damaged by starlings

8:22pm Wednesday 16th December 2009

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By Chris Hopper »

A BAE Systems fighter jet, on display at the firm's sprawling Samlesbury site, is under threat - from nesting birds.

Bosses at the defence giant have commissioned a report after starlings damaged the 1970s Lightning aircraft, which is visible from the A59.

They are worried the nesting birds may have caused permanent damage to the historic jet, set to prompt a costly restoration job or even a move to transport the Lightning to a location away from nuisance starlings.

In October, BAE moved a Canberra aircraft from Samlesbury to an RAF museum in Cumbria to be restored after concerns about its worsening condition at its outdoor East Lancashire base.

A BAE spokesman said: "We are doing some evaluation work on the Lightning aircraft before we make a decision on its future.

"For a number of years starlings have nested inside the aircraft and made a bit of a mess. That is the problem.

"Consequently we have commissioned a report into the condition of the aircraft and a decision will be made off the back of that."

He said it meant the aircraft could be moved away from Samlesbury like the Canberra, restored or just given a more regular clean.

The Lightning was partly manufactured at Samlesbury in the 1970s, when it was considered one of the fastest fighter jets in the world.

Meanwhile, BAE has played down the impact of Government defence cuts on its Samlesbury site.

A spokesman said Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth's cost-cutting measures, including closing an RAF base in Rutland where BAE workers are based, would have no "direct" impact on Lancashire.

BAE said: "Following the announcement by the Ministry of Defence concerning cuts in defence expenditure, it is important that we now study in detail the implications of the announcement on our sites and capabilities.

"However, we will continue to work with the MoD to ensure we meet our current commitments."

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