HUNDREDS of local jobs have been secured thanks to the awarding of a £580million contract for AgustaWestland to supply maintenance to Merlin helicopters for the UK Ministry of Defence.

The deal will see the Yeovil company provide maintenance support to the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 and Mk3 helicopters until 2020.

The helicopters will be based at Royal Navy stations at Yeovilton and Culdrose in Cornwall.

Defence Minister Philip Dunne announced the deal last week during a visit to the facility in Yeovil.

Mr Dunne said: “Our fleet of Merlin helicopters has benefited from considerable investment by the MOD through major upgrades in recent years.

“This new contract will ensure we can continue to deliver flexible capability to meet the needs of our armed forces, as well as excellent value for money for the taxpayer.

“In addition, the contract will sustain more than 1,000 jobs, which will maintain vital engineering skills in the defence sector.”

It is expected the deal will represent more than £140million in savings for the taxpayer until 2020, due to more sophisticated technology.

The announcement provides a great boost for the company, one of the area’s biggest employers, providing jobs for many people living in Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne.

Air Vice-Marshal Julian Young, director of helicopters at the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation, said: “The Merlin is an important part of our overall Helicopter Force, providing a variety of specialist and general roles in all weathers over land and sea.

“We are bringing in the contract one year earlier than planned to meet the requirements of the Front Line Commands and to deliver financial benefits, which is a great achievement and shows how the MOD can adapt flexibly to support the needs of our Armed Forces.”