SHORT Brothers has put 1,500 of its 6,800 workers in Belfast on protective notice due to financial difficulties at Dutch planemaker Fokker.

Details of the redundancy process will be discussed with unions at the plant today, but a statement from the company has stressed that this would be reviewed in the light of developments at Fokker.

A spokesman added that Short, which makes wings for the Fokker 100/70 jets, was hopeful that even if the contract was lost or scaled down, "several hundred" workers could be redeployed within the Belfast plant.

Fokker, which accounts for up to 30 per cent of Short's aerospace business, has won a four week reprieve from its creditors in the form of court protect ion as efforts continued to find a partner for its international aerospace industry.

Short has indicated that it will immediately cut back its wing production for Fokker, on a modest scale, and will transfer some staff on a temporary basis to other production lines. Continuation of production for the Fokker contract will depend on whether the company can secure payment, a spokesman said.

In the interim, he said, Short was "compelled" to take protective measures to limit the financial impact of the loss of this contract on its other aerospace business. "We know that the Fokker Jetline is a good product with a substantial orderbook and will make every effort we can to assist the programmes survival in the long term." Last year, Short produced 40 sets of wings for the Fokker jet, but 1996 levels had been expected to be higher.

Frantic efforts to salvage Fokker's core aircraft making operations were stepped up following yesterday's court ruling.

The Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr Hans Wijers, stressed that the search for a partner to secure a future for Fokker was continuing.

Mr Wijers said companies in Asia, North America and Europe had indicated their interest but he refused to name potential partners.

Canadian aerospace group Bombardier has been mentioned as a likely partner for the Dutch firm, but the company has ruled this out.

Mr Wijers stressed that it was up to Fokker and its three court appointed administrators to negotiate a deal to save the company but added that his government was also willing to help.