NEW jobs could be created after Swindon truck firm Man ERF walked away with its biggest ever contract.

The company, based in Blagrove, in West Swindon, has been confirmed as the winning bidder to supply the UK Armed Forces with a fleet of 5,000 cargo, and recovery trucks to replace its aging vehicles.

The project will be the largest military truck procurement for 25 years and is worth a massive £1.1 billion.

Man ERF had been announced as the contract's preferred bidder, but the winner has been officially revealed.

The vehicles will be capable of transporting large quantities of bulk equipment to our front-line troops wherever they are operating in the world.

The company will also supply maintenance for the vehicles over the next two decades.

David Burke, the marketing director of Man ERF, said staff were thrilled with the news.

He said: "The team at Man ERF have been working hard for five years to secure this deal and the MoD is very happy with the package we have offered them with costs, delivery and services.

"In the past few years we have undergone some expansion here in Swindon including the enlargement of our parts warehouse.

"We might be looking to recruit further technicians in the future not so much mechanics but those with a knowledge of electronic systems like those found in our vehicles."

The MAN truck being sold to the Armed Forces is of a rigid design rather than an articulated-type vehicle usually seen on our motorways.

The trucks will replace the fleet of four, eight and 14 tonne cargo vehicles and recovery trucks used by the RAF, Army and Navy from 2007.

According to MAN, the vehicle is a proven design in service with Armed Forces across the world and, despite being a Austrian-made vehicle, many components will be built in the UK.

MAN's Blagrove site will be home to the parts, logistics and service technicians as well as a breakdown rescue service.

Contract negotiations are underway and should be finalised by the end of the year.

The deal also includes an option to buy 2,000 more vehicles though no decision on that is expected until 2005.

The company is understood to have fought off competition from rivals including Mercedes-Benz, the US group Oshkosh and an Anglo-American consortium of Birmingham-based LDV and Stewart & Stevenson.