A JET grounded in the mid-80s is flying again - suspended from a crane.

The former RAF training and aerobatics aircraft was bought for £15,000 by Rossendale businessman Brian Boys, an avid collector of military vehicles.

He plans to renovate the plane so that it can fly again, a project he estimates will take two years and another £15,000.

Until then, he's happy `flying' up and down his Bury factory.

Brian said: "When it arrived at our depot in Rossendale it looked so splendid in its RAF colours that I had to do something special.

"We have a redundant factory, the Victoria Works on Bolton Road, and I though it would be a bit of fun to strap it to the crane hoist and `fly' up and down the factory in it."

Early in its career, the Jet Provost T Mk 5 A was one of four aircraft flown by The Blades Aerobatic team. The team, based at the First Flight Training School in Linton on Ouse, appeared in several air shows in Germany in the 1970s.

Built at Warton, Lancashire, the jet saw service at several flight training schools before it was retired.

Property developer Brian, who bought the craft from a military vehicle scrap man, said: "I served in the Royal Military Police as a young man in Catterick and I'd see all the tanks going past and think `one day I'll own one of those'. I have several now, as well as other military vehicles, but this is my first plane.

"It may not be in quite such glamorous surroundings, but at least it's back in the air."