Airship may link historic cities

The Skycat would float from Cambridge to Oxford in an hour

A futuristic passenger airship could provide commuters with a new link between two historic cities.

The Skycat helium balloon would float passengers from Cambridge to Oxford in an hour.

The project is being developed at the Cardington sheds in Bedfordshire, the home of the UK's airship industry.

But Advanced Technologies Group must find funding and get permission to use the airspace before the 21st Century airship gets off the ground.

A Cambridge to Oxford aeroplane service has already failed because of a lack of commuters but the company believes there is a market for Skycat.

High value jobs

Gordon Taylor of Advanced Technologies Group said: "Our teams have been working for over 35 years flying traditional airships and nobody even sprained an ankle."

"Its a very safe form of transportation."

Corrine Garbett of Huntingdonshire District Council said: "In Huntingdonshire we have a number of employment sites including some redundant airbases which would lend themselves perfectly to the manufacturing of component parts for the aviation industry.

"It would also provide high value jobs for our local people."