Isle of Wight employer IFPL says 25 jobs are at risk - with production likely to be worst affected.

The design and manufacturing firm, based near Shalfleet, supplies hardware to the coronavirus-hit airline industry.

Chief operating officer Neil McGregor told the County Press that consultation began this week and the process will take until the end of October.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a package of supporting financial measures on Thursday, September 24.

Read more: Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils 'job support scheme' to replace furlough after October 31

But the scheme - including a plan to replace furlough - has done little to help the award-winning Island company and the wider aerospace industry.

Jobs need to be 'viable' in order to qualify. Employees will work part time hours and get their pay topped up.

But boxes must be ticked in order for companies to qualify.

Neil McGregor said: “We were hoping for more targeted support from the government. The viable jobs definition is a strange one. Our jobs are viable, just on a longer timescale.

“We supply components to companies that supply in-flight entertainment systems. The airlines are not buying planes and not refurbishing existing ones. The market has completely disappeared."

IFPL is seeking a meeting with Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely, to ask what more can be done to help the troubled sector.

Neil McGregor warned: “The aerospace sector is a huge business for the UK in general and there are other companies on the Island that rely on it.

“Without supporting this sector, when the market does come back, a lot of the UK companies won’t be there anymore