Leonardo Yeovil waits for a government decision on its future

More than 3,000 jobs at the Leonardo helicopter site in Yeovil are reported to be at risk while a government contract remains unsigned; the government has said it will announce the outcome "as soon as possible" and Leonardo is reported to be the only bidder.

Workers at the Leonardo helicopter site in Yeovil are awaiting a government decision that will affect the factory's future. Local employees, including Ben Clarke, say the site has deep family connections and that more than 3,000 jobs are reported to be at risk if a new government contract is not awarded soon. Leonardo's CEO, Roberto Cingolani, has been reported as saying the company cannot continue to subsidise the Yeovil site without a new contract, and Parliament held an urgent debate this week. The government has said it will announce the outcome of the contract, for which Leonardo is reported to be the only bidder, "as soon as possible". Key facts: - More than 3,000 jobs at the Yeovil site are reported to be at risk if a new government contract is not awarded. - The contract has not been signed and Leonardo is reported to be the only bidder. - CEO Roberto Cingolani has said the company cannot continue to subsidise the site without the contract, and Parliament held an urgent debate this week. - The government said it will announce the outcome "as soon as possible". Summary: The situation places sustained uncertainty on employees and the local community. The immediate next procedural step is the government's announcement on the contract outcome, which has been reported as forthcoming "as soon as possible".