Aerospace firms have responded to a speech by Theresa May meant to underline her Government's commitment to UK aerospace as Brexit storm clouds refuse to abate.

Speaking at the industry showcase that is the Farnborough International Airshow the Prime Minister promised to deliver £300 million of investment in a sector worth £60blln to the UK and supporting millions of jobs.

Industry heavyweight Airbus spoke out just weeks ago that could reduce its presence in the UK because of Brexit disruption, heaping still more pressure on negotiations with Brussels.

ADS, the powerful industry body which also represents companies in Gloucestershire including the mighty Staverton-based Safran, the landing gear specialists, welcomed the statement - with a caveat.

Paul Everitt, chief executive of ADS said: "Today the Prime Minister opened the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow with a strong statement of intent on a future combat air strategy and important commitments to an Aerospace Sector Deal.

"These important announcements and greater certainty on Brexit negotiations will provide vital confidence and encourage investment.

"We are set for a busy and exciting week at Farnborough as the global aerospace, defence and space industries are here to do business, build new partnerships and discuss the ideas and technologies for the future of flight.

"This will be the most international show in our history and is the best place for UK and overseas businesses to showcase new capability to the international business, political and military leaders we will welcome through our doors this week."

Mr Everitt said "international political, military and business leaders visiting Farnborough" would be "reassured by last week's Brexit white paper" but "keen to hear more about the UK's post-Brexit ambitions".

ADS has warned before that given its dependence on cross-border trade in components the sector could be paralysed if the UK were to leave the customs union and single market

Exports in aerospace were worth an estimated £30 billion in 2017.

Only last month Tom Enders, the chief executive officer of Airbus UK, which employs 14,000 staff, said it could pull production out of the UK if it left the EU without a transition deal.

Mr Enders changed his tune slightly last week, saying he tentatively welcomed Theresa May's plans and that the Government was now moving in the right direction.

Boeing, Airbus's great rival in the West, has also agreed to keep investing in Britain.

It's boss, Dennis Muilenberg, said the company's plans would not be changed by the UK's decision to leave the EU, but added it would not welcome disruption to the movement of goods.

Prime Minister Theresa May opened the Airshow and announced investment worth £343m for innovative R&D projects to support development of new technology in the UK, including for cleaner aircraft.

She also announced that a new Aerospace Sector Deal will be created to further support the UK's status as a world leader in aerospace, and announced the launch of the Combat Air Strategy.

The new strategy saw the announcement of the Team Tempest partnership between Government and industry partners BAE Systems, Leonardo, MBDA and Rolls Royce. The partnership is part of the Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative programme announced in 2015.

The Government has also announced that a new spaceport will be developed in Sutherland, Scotland, while a new £2 million fund is being made available to boost horizontal launch spaceport sites across Britain - such as Newquay, Glasgow Prestwick and Snowdonia.