The A380 superjumbo wing has left Broughton

It came off the Airbus production line in north Wales on Monday morning for the first leg of its journey to France.

The milestone in aviation history was watched by hundreds of Airbus workers at the Broughton factory.

The wing will now stay at Mostyn to be joined by another before being sent to France shortly after Easter.

On Monday, the wing measuring over 45 metres was loaded onto a special transporter at the Broughton factory and driven a short journey to their loading barge on the River Dee.

The barge successfully sailed to the port of Mostyn on Tuesday.

The wing was taken to Mostyn on a barge

It is a journey that Airbus workers will eventually make four days a month to ensure two pairs of wings are sent to France within a four week period.

The ship will leave Mostyn, heading for Bordeaux in France, from there it will continue by river barge to Langon and it will then be taken by special road vehicles to Toulouse.

The workforce at Broughton has spent several years designing the wings.

The first superjumbo, which will carry 555 passengers, will take to the skies in test flights in 2005.

The delivery to Airbus' first customer, Singapore Airlines, will be made a year later.

On-board services are expected to include shops, sleeping areas, cr�che and exercise rooms over two decks.