Ford to cut 1,400 car jobs in Southampton and Dagenham

Carmaker Ford has announced plans to close two UK plants with the loss of 1,400 jobs.

Its Southampton Transit van factory and the stamping plant at Dagenham, Essex, will shut, with union sources saying the job losses could reach 2,000.

Ford said it planned to close the plants next year.

The news came a day after Ford said it had started consultations on closing its factory at Genk in Belgium with the loss of 4,300 jobs to cut costs.

John Moylan reports from Southampton.