TANK builder Vickers has won a £20m deal to provide temporary bridging systems to the Malaysian Army.

The Asian country will become the first export customer for the Vickers modular bridging system, which has been in service with the British Army for the past five years.

It has been used in military and civil applications in the Balkans, Germany, Canada and Poland.

The ATLSB system will be carried by 18 specially-designed trucks to be built at the company's Scotswood Road plant, in Newcastle, which employs 450 staff.

The bridges, each about 170ft long, will be built by the Vickers plant in Wolverhampton in the Midlands, which has a staff of about 55.

It is hoped the Malaysian deal could convince the British Government to award a £250m order for 110 Army tractors to the company.

Vickers faces tough competition from rival BAe Systems, which is also bidding for the contract.

The Malaysian win also follows the loss of a contract to supply the Greek Army with new tanks, worth in excess of £1.2bn.

John Broughton, sales and marketing director at Vickers Defence Systems, said: "We are extremely pleased to win this important export order. We look forward to working with our partners in Malaysia and expect to see growth in this vital area of capability."

Vickers is owned by Rolls-Royce which is in talks with rival armoured vehicle maker Alvis about a possible sale of the business.