The future of the Elvington Air Spectacular remains in doubt today after the Government revealed that a preferred bidder for the airfield has been selected.

Junior Defence Minister Peter Kilfoyle announced in the Commons that the preferred bidder was Elvington Park Ltd.

Now Selby MP John Grogan is seeking an urgent meeting with the Cardiff-based company to ensure the future of the Yorkshire Air Museum and the annual air show.

Dave Tappin, joint managing director for the air spectacular, is hopeful the show can still go ahead. "We would like to meet with the company and ask them a couple of questions," he said.

"Will they allow the use of the airfield and how much would they charge?

"We had a meeting to discuss the air show the other day but until these questions are answered there will be no way of knowing if it will take place at all."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman stressed that bidders for the site had been asked to take into account "casual uses" of the airfield like the annual show.

He added that the sale was expected to be concluded within weeks.

Richard Corby, of Henry Butcher and Co, confirmed that a preferred purchaser had been selected and "terms have been agreed".

"Elvington Park Limited is aware of the needs of the museum and will be dealing with them on a commercial basis," he said.

Ian Reed, director of the Yorkshire Air Museum, whose consortium was unsuccessful in its attempts to buy the airfield, said: "We are going to have to pay the going rate.

"We act as stewards for the Ministry of Defence and have free use of the airfield, but if we are working on a commercial basis we will have to take costs into account.

Mr Grogan added: "At least we now know the name of the company.

"I will be seeking within the next ten days to invite them to meet me and the air museum and representatives of the air show to discuss what assurances they can give."

The 400-acre site has been up for sale since early 1998 and, if valued as farmland, would be worth £1.2 million.

Elvington Park Limited was unavailable for comment.

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