Harold Wilson's government wasn't keen on the plans either

Then minister for aerospace, he made the comments to back up a report written for PM Edward Heath, according to papers released on Tuesday.

The documents have been made public by the National Archives in Kew, London.

Documents released earlier this year showed Harold Wilson's government almost scrapped plans for Concorde in 1974, because it would be too costly.

The project was continued by Heath's government so as not to risk antagonising the French president and jeopardising Britain's entry to the European Economic Community (EEC), according to a report of the documents in the Independent.

According to the document, the French thought between 125 and 175 of the passenger jets would be made, and hoped other countries would snap them up.

'Hopeless project'

But officials were concerned the UK, and France, would find it difficult to sell more than 10 Concordes because of a lack of interest beyond the two national airlines. Twenty of the supersonic jets were eventually made.

Mr Heseltine backed the report written for advisory group the Central Policy Review Staff (CPRS), saying the idea was not economically viable and added that he thought it was a "hopeless project".

But, said the CPRS report, the French president Georges Pompidou has "personal commitment to the project" and the French were unlikely to let it go.

"We cannot therefore cancel the project without prejudicing the ratification of our EEC membership," said the report.