JOBS in South Gloucestershire have been safeguarded thanks to a £865 million government contract.

Rolls-Royce announced this morning that it has signed the multi-million pound contract with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to support Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the next decade.

Defence Minister Quentin Davies visited the Filton-based firm today, January 15, to coincide with the announcement.

Mr Davies said the contract would help sustain up to 500 jobs at Rolls-Royce and a further 2,500 in the company’s supply chain.

The MOD has ordered 186 of the Typhoon jets, each of which is powered by two Rolls-Royce engines.

About 30 of the jets have been delivered and are in active use by the RAF, in places including Afghanistan and the Falkland Islands.