THREE UK vehicle manufacturers are in the running for orders worth £1.4bn to build trucks for the armed forces.

Leyland Trucks, of Preston, Lancashire, Man Truck and Bus, of Swindon, Wiltshire, and Mercedes-Benz UK Defence, of Milton Keynes, are on a shortlist of five for the Ministry of Defence's biggest single vehicle purchase in more than 20 years.

Also invited to tender for contracts to supply and maintain the 8,500 trucks are US manufacturer Oshkosh Truck Corporation and Stewart and Stevenson Tactical Vehicles Systems.

Defence procurement minister Lord Bach said: "These new vehicles are needed to support our armed forces in the front line.

"Invitations to tender have gone to five companies, three of which have bases in the UK and all of which are actively investigating the use of UK facilities for manufacture, assembly and support of the fleet."

The first of the new vehicles is expected to be delivered for trials in 2005. Selection of the winning contender is due to take place in the autumn.