Grave doubts remain about 1,000 jobs at Vauxhall’s production plant in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire following talks with parent company General Motors (GM).

Recent talks that took place in Germany were described as “unhelpful” by both management and unions, and rumours that Gordon Brown and Trade Secretary Alistair Darling are to visit the site have fuelled speculation that the plant is to close soon.

The unions have admitted that changes need to be made to stem losses in the European market, but mass redundancies are not the solution they have in mind,” said manufacturing analyst Francis Frith.

”If Vauxhall does close this plant, and it seems a likely outcome, then car manufacturing in the UK will shortly become industrial history.”