TOURIST bosses have sent out an SOS to York businesses in a last-ditch effort to bring Concorde to the region.

York Tourism Bureau chief executive Gillian Cruddas has sent out a high priority message to company directors, the North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, and anyone else who can help Yorkshire Air Museum's bid to secure the supersonic aircraft.

The Evening Press reported yesterday that British Airways has told museum chiefs at the Elvington-based museum they must provide guarantees of £600,000 by tomorrow.

The museum needs the cash to build a hangar to house Concorde and is awaiting news of a lottery bid in October.

But BA is not prepared to wait and has told the museum it must provide evidence that it has the cash at a meeting tomorrow.

Mrs Cruddas said: "The Tourism Bureau fully supports the museum's efforts to bring Concorde to the Yorkshire region.

"This really is the only viable site in the North East and it would be a huge disappointment if it didn't happen.

"We are putting out an appeal to government agencies and private companies to get behind this bid.

"If six different supporters came forward at £100,000 each that would help to clinch it. We don't want to see all the Concordes going to the South.

"This bid is not just for the benefit of the museum. I cannot stress enough what a tremendous boost it would be for the region as a whole, and we hope businesses and government agencies will come forward to help us achieve a positive result."

Ian Reed, museum director, said: "We have all to play for at the moment and future generations may well judge us upon how we handle the next few days. People are saying positive things and we would appeal to anyone to come forward and help us. I am confident that the money will come forward."

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, July 10, 2003