AN OXFORDSHIRE company developing a new spacecraft engine has welcomed the government’s intention to build spaceports in the UK.

Reaction Engines, based in Culham, said the announcement was a boost to its own work and the UK space industry as a whole.

The Spaceflight Bill, set to be published by the Department for Transport this week, will set a legal framework for opening spaceports in the UK and funding the space industry in this country.

It is understood private companies would be expected to bid for the chance to build and run ports in rural areas.

Reaction Engines is designing and developing a new class of powerful engine which could be used in aircraft or spacecraft.

CEO Mark Thomas said yesterday: "Reaction Engines is designing and developing propulsion technologies needed for the next generation of air and space vehicles which have the potential to enable hypersonic flight and transform space access.

"We welcome this announcement which will lead to the development of the UK’s first spaceport and will provide a further boost to our own efforts and to Britain’s fast growing space industry."