"The employment group in Bridgend is outstanding and they’ve done everything right in delivering efficiency," said Ford's European president Stuart Rowley.

"It’s nothing to do with the group... it’s the business decision situation we find ourselves in.

"There is sure to be a number of employees affected in suppliers."

President of Ford Europe Stuart Rowley said: "The Bridgend plant is under-utilised and is less efficient than other factories.

"A third of the workforce is related to the Jaguar-Land Rover engine production that is coming to an end.

"From an historic high of 600-700,000 units in Bridgend, that has been declining.

"The residual demand for the new three cylinder engine would be below the capacity of 125,000."

Speaking after the announcement, the president of Ford Europe Stuart Rowley said: “We understand this is very significant for the employees, their families and the community in south Wales.

"This is not a decision we have taken lightly but felt it was necessary to put the business on the right footing.

"This has nothing to do with Brexit.”

Ryan Leyshon, 18 and Natalie Jefferies, 40, are mechanic students at Bridgend college and are concerned by the announcement.

Natalie was a housewife who fitted cars as a hobby after being told jobs as mechanics weren't for women.

But after following her dream she is now concerned about the future for young apprentices.

“The single biggest blow to our economy since the closure of the pits,” is how Bridgend council described the news.

But leader Huw David pledged that the authority will offer workers at the plant its full support and that action is already being taken.

“Bridgend Ford has been our biggest single private sector employer at the heart of the community for almost 40 years,” he said.

“We are devastated for everyone affected by this decision, and we urge Ford to reconsider and to work with both Welsh Government and the UK Government to keep this plant open.”

Image source, PA

Shadow secretary of state for Wales Christina Rees said: "Our first thoughts are with the Ford workers and their families who have been hit by this devastating news.

“I’m deeply concerned that the UK Government has been drifting from crisis to crisis for so long that it has taken its eye off the ball.

"The UK Government must now step up and support the automotive industry and help secure it’s long-term future in Wales and across the UK."

Image source, Wales

Ian Price, CBI Wales director, said: “The planned closure of Ford’s Bridgend plant is a blow to the lives of all who work there and in its supply chains, as well as to the Welsh economy.

“The workers must be given every help in re-training, upskilling and finding new opportunities.

"Despite the bad news, we welcome that Ford recognises its obligations and is proposing a plan to ease the impact.

“The Welsh Government and Westminster must do all in its power to sustain manufacturing in our country, and support industries under threat from a range of challenges, from automation to a slowing global economy.”

Brexit is "not to blame" if Ford closes its engine plant in Bridgend next year, MPs have been told.

The decision would be a "devastating blow" and would lead to the loss of 1,700 jobs at the south Wales factory, and many more in companies supplying goods and services to the plant.

Trade minister Graham Stuart hit out at Labour MPs for blaming the proposed closure on Brexit.

Mr Stuart said the automotive industry is in "massive global flux" and trying to link every decision to Brexit is to "lead people astray".

He was answering a question in the Commons from Labour's Geraint Davies, whose father worked at the Welsh Office and had convinced the car firm to move to Bridgend.

Economy Minister Ken Skates said: “The Ford engine plant has been a part of the fabric of Bridgend for almost four decades and my heart goes out to all those employed at the site and in the supply chain.

“This is clearly devastating news for the highly skilled workforce at the Ford Bridgend plant and the many local suppliers and communities who rely so heavily on it.

“The Welsh Government will establish a task force to work together with others over the coming weeks to help find a sustainable, long term solution for the plant and its workforce.”

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “This news is incredibly sad for the loyal workforce at the factory, for the community of Bridgend and for those in the supply chain.

“The Welsh Government has supported the plant over many years and this decision in no way reflects on the highly skilled individuals who have given the company great service over four decades.

“The Welsh Government will do everything in its power to support those impacted by this announcement and to work with all partners to explore options for the future of the plant.”

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price has called for an emergency meeting with Ford bosses.

He described Bridgend Ford as one of the “greatest and most iconic” plants in the UK and its closure would be one of the worst acts of “industrial vandalism” seen in the UK for decades.

Mr Price warned of the “devastating impact” on the Welsh economy, adding: “I am prepared to exhaust all options in order keep the Bridgend plant operational.”

In the letter given to workers at Bridgend's Ford plant, the firm said it had made losses in 2018... "despite returning a modest profit in Q1 2019... profitability was down year on year. Returning to profitability is critical and the company must ensure the efficiency of all its operations...

The company "has to take decisive action" and a "reset strategy has been developed to lay the foundations to achieve sustainable profitability. This strategy requires difficult actions to be taken across the European business".

“After an extended difficult period of uncertainty for workers in Bridgend, today’s announcement was the last news we were hoping for,” said Shadow Business Minister Russell George.

“The Welsh Government must act swiftly now to support the workers of the area, and to reassure the world that Wales continues to be a place of automotive excellence.

“With the Bridgend site closing in late 2020 the next step is to attract new business opportunities to the area for these skilled workers.”

Ford has confirmed the news – saying it has started a consultation on the proposed end of engine production and closure of the Bridgend factory by late 2020.

In a statement, it blamed the “significant underutilisation” of the plant driven by the end of engine production for Jaguar Land Rover.

It also said the site faced a “cost disadvantage” compared to its other facilities building the same products.

The company has proposed ending production of the new generation Ford 1.5-litre engine in February 2020 followed by Jaguar Land Rover in September 2020.

Image source, PA

Employees sent home after receiving the news were met by reporters.

In a letter, they were told they would lose their jobs "in phases" during 2019 and 2020.

All of the affected workers have been told that there will be no production at the plant until Monday "given this significant announcement".