Robert Wright

A deal was reached in principle for the sale of Wrightbus .

bidders Jo Bamford agreement said to have been achieved with "the Wright family for the Wrightbus factory and country".

"We are still to conclude a deal with the administrators, but are pleased to report this important step in The Right direction," he said.

He DUP MP Ian Paisley , the help for "his hard work and diligence, to convey what can sometimes be a tricky negotiation thanked".

On Thursday, the owner of the Wrightbus factory,

The sticking point had been arable land, he it not as part of the factory premises.

However, a statement by Jeff Wright on Friday confirmed that the agricultural land will Now be given of the parish Council, as a "tribute" to his father, Sir William Wright .

There are plans for a possible innovation center for start-ups on the Website.

"The legacy gift is a tribute not only to My Father , his father before him, and the Wright Family Members , but especially a tribute to the generations of workers that build helped a proud tradition of manufacturing in Ballymena," said Mr Wright.

"It's my true want to see this heritage is for the purpose of expanding the production and use of our community. "

George is Naughty from the Unite union, said the "momentous day" "a tribute to the workforce" and the solidarity that you have shown.

"There are a lot of smiling faces at the moment," he added.

"We have just confirmed everything. "

Mr Bamford, an English industrialist who wants to buy The Son of JCB chairman Lord Bamford, the Wrightbus business and the factory for its Ryse hydrogen society.

Mr Paisley, who was involved in the negotiations on agriculture, on Thursday night, Friday welcomed the announcement, said Mr Bamford, is "the completion of definitive agreements with the administrator to take Wrightbus and, men and women back to work, construction-buses".

Speaking on the BBC's evening Extra programme, Mr Paisley: "have said a great British industrial, come on over and invest in the workforce of north Antrim, and considerable millions behind them and over The Line . a piece of arable land to not Get In the way. "

He added that the country will not be used for personal gain, and that Jo Bamford "does the piece of land in partnership with The Council " to create opportunities for The Local population.

TUV leader and North Antrim MLA Jim Allister said he was listening to "pleased" that the news of The Deal .

"I want all of you who have made this possible, many are working tirelessly behind the scenes," he added.

"I particularly like the firmness of the workers' salute. "

By Clodagh rice BBC NI business correspondent

workers who breathed outside Wrightbus a sigh of Relief - there were even bottles of champagne open in celebration.

The news came on Friday morning, Jo Bamford has agreed in principle to buy the factory.

the work is in progress on The Details with the administrators - we still don't know how many of the employees are held.

The farmland that was donated to a sticking point previously made by Jeff Wright in the mid and East Antrim Borough Council as a tribute to his father and the generations of workers.

The Council is in negotiations with Queen's university - he hopes that The Site could be used as an innovation project as part of the Belfast City deal.

the production of NI tweeted that it was good news that a deal has been done, what could lead to a deal secured, the added by the administrators, but that Deloitte needs to be aware that "in the rescue of some of the jobs at Wrightbus you do not kill jobs in the SME supply chain, the millions owed".

Wrightbus was founded in 1946 by a tin hut in Ballymena by Robert Wright and his son, William , Now Sir William Wright .

Ballymena business was put up for sale last month.

The Wrightbus premises are owned separately from the manufacturing business and held in a company by the name of whirlwind property Two is not part of the Wright group and is therefore not under the control of the administrator.

The property company controlled by Jeff Wright, the former owner of Wrightbus .

Source of news: bbc.com