THE case for a shipbuilding jobs boost to the North-East was taken to the Government yesterday.

A bid for an order worth up to £2.7bn for two new aircraft carriers, to be placed with local firms, was made at a meeting in London by representatives from Swan Hunter and regional development agency One NorthEast.

It could guarantee thousands of jobs on Tyneside and involve the reopening of Port Clarence on Teesside.

Swan Hunter's commercial director, Norman Brownall, said there was now "an excellent chance of getting the work".

He said the main case was that a unified regional stance was presented, involving not only the firm and the development agency, but also local MPs.

About 4,000 jobs could be secured if the bid was successful.

Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell also attended the presentation to Defence Minister Lord Bach, along with Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South.

Mr Campbell said: "The delegation made a very impressive case for at least some of the carrier work to come to the North-East."

The Ministry of Defence has announced that it wants to build two aircraft carriers, but shipyards around the UK are waiting anxiously for a decision over where the orders will be placed.

A final announcement is expected in spring next year.

Mr Campbell said: "The North-East is the only region with the skilled workforce and the engineering capacity to meet these orders. If successful, it will also put us in a better position to compete for future shipbuilding work."

The two carriers are expected to be completed and come into service in 2012, and work on the first is likely to start in 2005.

Mr Brownall added: "We believe we are in line for a good proportion of the forthcoming order.

"But we have got to continue to fight for it - the Westminster politicians as well as the suppliers and the manufacturers."