Belfast aerospace group Shorts Brothers is to create up to 120 new jobs at its two production plants at Newtownabbey and Dunmurry, both in Co Antrim. The expansion is in response to increased production at several of Short's major customers, including Bombardier, Boeing, Rolls Royce and BMW Rolls Royce.

Short's vice president and general manager, Mr Ken Brundle, said the company was now confident of increased growth in this area of its business.

Yesterday, a rescue plan for Fokker was rejected in Amsterdam, after the government demanded changes to a letter of intent from South Korea's Samsung Aerospace to buy the bankrupt plane maker.