As work at Woodford Aerodrome grinds to a halt, 51 employees still don’t know what will happen to them.

The project to supply nine Nimrod MRA4 aircraft was scrapped in the government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review last year, putting more than 600 jobs across BAE Systems at risk.

Now just 51 employees who chose not to take voluntary redundancy are still hoping to be offered other jobs at BAE. If they can’t be found suitable jobs, they face compulsory redundancy on June 23.

Unite convener John Fussey, 43, has worked for BAE for 27 years.

He said: "Most of the operators are at home on gardening leave awaiting their fate.

"It’s already as if it’s dead – it’s horrific to walk around.

"It’s an empty hanger which was once full of aircraft, buzzing with hundreds of people. It’s sad to see it like that."

He added: "I’ve got 45 (manual labour) people who haven’t found redeployment places which is a worry because we really want to finish on a high."

Keith French, professional staff chairman, from Tytherington, is also awaiting news of a job.

He said: "Out of 600 permanent positions, about 300 have asked for redeployments and about 50 are left.

"We’ve done pretty well, the company has been very good, but we’re hopeful everybody who wants a job will get one."

If he is redeployed, dad-of-two Keith, 54, faces a 65-mile commute to the company’s Warton site.

He said: "I’ve got a family and my wife works in Macclesfield so either way it means one of us commuting, and with the children at school, we decided it should be me."

Work at the site has almost stopped, with just a small group doing decommissioning work.

A spokeswoman for BAE Systems said 150 out of 300 staff have been found work and the company is working hard to find redeployment for the final 50.

She said: "We are looking to redeploy them but unfortunately if they haven’t been by June 23 then their employment will cease.

"As owner of the site BAE Systems remains committed to the site until its future is determined and we are working closely with local councils in this matter."

EMPLOYEES past and present are invited to a leaving do at the Lancaster Club on the site on Friday, June 17. John, of Old Chapel St, Edgeley, Stockport, added: "We’re marking the death of Woodford. It will be sad but it will be an opportunity to shake everyone’s hands."