MORE than 700 high-quality manufacturing jobs in the south have been safeguarded with a £30m boost.

Engineering giant GKN, which has a factory at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, is to build a world-class advanced aerospace composite centre.

Staff will be dedicated to the development of the next generation of design and manufacturing technologies for large composite aerostructures. GKN, which is the Island's largest private employer, is already the world's leading independent supplier of composite aircraft structures, which allow planes to use less fuel and carry heavier loads.

The ACF centre will attract 50 per cent funding from GKN, with the other half coming from a partnership between regional development agency SEEDA and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt made the announcement yesterday at the Farnborough International Air Show.

Armed police were on patrol at the show amid the tightest security the event has ever seen.

Around 300 police officers, some

carrying machine guns, have been deployed at the arms fair where 32 countries are exhibiting defence systems all this week.

There was a heavy armed presence around American companies at the show, which is expected to attract 300,000 people from the aviation industry all week and the public on Saturday and Sunday.

The event has already proved controversial, with protesters against the global arms trade presenting a £888m 'cheque' outside the gates of the show to represent what they claim is UK government subsidies to defence industries.

The biannual show at the 66-acre site in Hampshire is one of the world's largest and most prestigious.

Big names in the aviation and defence industries, including BAE Systems, Boeing, Airbus and Rolls-Royce, are taking part.