A SUPERSONIC car aiming to break the land speed record is set to appear in Monmouthshire.

The Bloodhound, designed to travel at 1,000mph, will be on display at a firm which has supplied equipment to the project.

Chepstow-based Reid Lifting will host the jet-powered car at its new £4 million factory where they make lightweight portable lifting equipment. They designed a lifting system to allow the Bloodhound team to work on all areas of the car.

The car will be driven for the first time at Cornwall Airport in October - 20 years after the current land speed record of 726 mph was set.

Two of the company's engineers have volunteered to visit local schools to talk about the Bloodhound project with the aim to inspire the next generation about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Pupils from Thornwell Primary in Chepstow, and Wyedean School in Sedbury, will be given a special preview of the car and a tour of the new factory later this week.

The 45,000 sq ft facility on the Newhouse Farm Industrial Estate, which was built with a contribution of £680,000 business finance from the Welsh Government, has created 23 high quality jobs – bringing the total headcount to 44.

It is set to open on Friday June 16, a day after Reid hosts an international sales conference with overseas customers and distributors.

Speaking ahead of the launch, managing director Nick Battersby said: “The investment in the facilities and the company’s future is already paying dividends with significantly increased capacity, shorter lead times and a highly motivated workforce.

“We are very proud to be able to show off our premises to our international partners, suppliers and local community.”

According to Reid, the company has seen a 50 per cent growth in sales/turnover in the last few years with forecast growth of 25 per cent in the coming year.

The increased capacity is enabling the company meet the growing demand for its products which have been used to lift and move priceless artefacts at the Vatican, the Louvre and the British Museum.

With the help of the Welsh Government, Reid Lifting now exports 45 per cent of its products to markets in the US, Australia, the Middle East and Western Europe.

Economy secretary Ken Skates added: “I am delighted the Welsh Government is supporting this important expansion project which has already created a significant number of new jobs locally.

“I also applaud their work with local schools encouraging the take up of STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] subjects and wish the company every success in the future.”