CEMENT made in Westbury kilns is being sent halfway around the world to help with community projects and was due to arrive in time for Christmas.

Lafarge cement works is dispatching a shipment 8,000 miles to the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic.

The shipment was set to reach the remote islands, where just 2,379 people live, before the festive season.

John Collinson, works manager, said: "It's great to think that some of the cement we make here is being used to good effect over 8,000 miles away.

"There are some exciting

projects in the pipeline for

the islands including a new deep water port.

"We'll be working closely with them to make sure our products continue to play their part in the development of the islands."

Over the past two years Lafarge has shipped more than 1,000 tonnes of cement to the Falkland Islands Company Ltd based on Port Stanley.

Nick Francis, manager of the homecare building supplies, said: "The cement has been used for major construction projects across the islands, including the recent extension to their main junior school.

"It's not just the professional builders who use it we sell the cement to individual builders and DIY enthusiasts on the islands."