The loss of Airbus would be "catastrophic" to the economy of Flintshire and across the UK.

Ken Skates AM, cabinet secretary for economy and transport, urged the UK government to deliver the best possible deal for Britain and demonstrate how they are going to negotiate a Brexit deal that "works for working people."

He said the Welsh government has been very clear in demanding a Brexit deal delivers "free and frictionless access to the single market and that we are part of the customs union."

"The loss of Airbus would be catastrophic not just for the economy of Flintshire but for the economy of North Wales and North West, much of the UK," he said.

"We have to ensure the UK government delivers the best possible deal for Britain."

He added: "We (Welsh Government) have gone further. We are spending £20million in Broughton delivering an advanced manufacturing research institute designed to ensure we have got the wing of tomorrow here in North Wales.

"It's vital for the 6,500 people that work at the Airbus plant and the many, many more people that work in the supply chain."

"There is no doubt that the outcome of Brexit negotiations will determine the prosperity of Britain in the future. A no deal scenario would be utterly disastrous."

North Wales Chronicle:

Askar Sheibani, chairman of the Deeside Business Forum

Askar Sheibani, managing director and CEO of Comtek Network Systems, and chairman of the Deeside Business Forum, said: "I have campaigned heavily against Brexit and I always say that Airbus is not owned by the UK it’s owned by Europe and there is no insurance for the UK to keep it, I always stand by that.

"They have skilled resources in France and Germany so they won’t suffer. The biggest loss will be for Broughton and the UK, Brexiteers say it won’t happen but it will.

"It is a tragic announcement and the reality is that it will happen if we keep up with the way we are, it creates uncertainty.

"We are creating something that makes it more difficult for Airbus to trade. They have tight deadlines and if it’s late it will result in a major financial loss, if the movement of products etc is not on time, it will be damaging to the business.

"At the moment, what we are hearing is making all businesses very nervous and that is what the problem is.

"If this happens it will be disastrous, it will create a hole in the North Wales economy and other businesses will follow, not just Airbus but a lot of supply chains rely on Airbus and if it goes, we can’t replace it.

"It will have a devastating impact on education and the region as a whole. Many colleges and universities have a partnership with them and they will lose out. It would be unthinkable to lose that.

"If we continue with the idea of a single market it will be devastating for production right across the region.

"Broughton will turn into a ghost town, it will be terrible and we are talking about everyone losing out here, even the cleaners. It will have a very devastating impact.

We need to do something about that before many more companies migrate."