Cotswolds home to UK's first air taxi centre

Image source, Nick Dimbleby Image caption, The Valo aircraft take off and land vertically like helicopters

Futuristic air taxis that take off like helicopters will be built at a new facility that is the first of its kind in the UK.

Bristol-based company Vertical Aerospace has announced a new aircraft assembly centre at Cotswold Airport, near Kemble in Gloucestershire, describing it as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity".

The Valo aircraft currently being developed and tested there are electric, carry four passengers and can fly up to 160km (100 miles) with no operating emissions, the firm said.

Minister for Reindustrialisation Blair McDougall said the new facility would "help turn British innovation into British manufacturing".

The new centre adds 60,000sq ft (5,574sq m) of space to Vertical's existing flight test centre at Cotswold Airport.

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