US helicopter contract stopped

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Work on a multi-billion pound contract to build 23 helicopters in Somerset for the US presidential fleet has stopped.

Agusta Westland in Yeovil confirmed that a stop order was issued by the US Congress on the second part of the contract to build the VH-71s.

The company said the 50 staff working on the project had been redeployed and there would be no job losses.

The first phase of the contract, signed in 2005, to produce nine aircraft has been completed.

Agusta Westland said it had been told it would have to wait until the US Congress made a decision on the future of the fleet, which could take two months.