The jobs will go at the firm's plant in Sunderland, north-east England, which has around 5,000 workers and is one of the biggest employers in the region.

'Like all manufacturers, the Sunderland plant is currently operating in extraordinary circumstances not of our making,' said Mr Trevor Mann, Nissan's senior vice-president for manufacturing, Europe.

'It is essential we take the right action now to ensure we are in a strong and viable position once business conditions return to normal. Unavoidably, this means we have had to make some very tough decisions in recent weeks.' -- AFP