 Three organisations replied, two of which sent in light bids for only the lighter class of aircraft.The Aero Club sent in a significantly higher bid for both classes of aircraft, and placed their offer in the Town Hall letter box at 11 am on the 17th, an hour before the deadline.The Town Clerk's staff failed to empty the letter box at 12 noon as they were expected to do, and as a result the letter was not considered 'delivered' until after the deadline, and the licence was granted to one of the other bidders, Red Rose Helicopters.