Worker Len Jones, 48, from Pyle, said he felt let down by the decision.

He added: "There was disappointment and anger in the meeting.

"We knew it was coming but it's still upsetting.

"We've been told production of the Dragon engine will stop next February but I'll be back in work Monday morning.

"I don't know what I'll do next. I work on the Dragon line and I knew we weren't delivering the big numbers needed.

"But they were still advertising jobs for the production line last week so it's still a shock."

Workers were given a letter outlining the plans to close the plant in autumn 2020

Workers are leaving the plant after being told it will close on 25 September 2020

Peter Hughes, the Wales secretary of union Unite called on the Welsh public and workers to fight Ford’s decision.

He wants people to boycott Ford cars.

Mr Hughes said the company has had £140m of taxpayers' money since 1978 and made profits in Wales and they should not be able to just walk away.

The average wage of employees is £45,000, with some on £60,000 and team leaders £100,000.

Leaders of neighbouring councils said the closure will be a huge blow for many parts of south Wales.

Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Andrew Morgan said hundreds of people from the area would be affected, adding: “If indications are correct about the potential decision in respect of the Ford engine plant in Bridgend later today, this will be a devastating blow to the local economy.”

“Deep regret” was also expressed by Neath Port Talbot leader Rob Jones.

“The Ford plant has been one of the cornerstones of the south Wales economy for some 40 years and a significant proportion of the workforce are residents of this county borough,” he said.

“We estimate some 20% of the staff - second only to Bridgend itself, so the impact will be keenly felt in the area.”

Both leaders said they would work with the Welsh Government to support workers affected and try to mitigate the impact.

It is understood all staff at the Bridgend plant will be sent home after they've been addressed by management this morning

In the House of Commons, Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith called the closure a "devastating blow" and asked the government to provide a statement.

Leader of the house Mel Stride said "clearly discussions are taking place at the moment" and the government "will keep a very close eye on developments and will respond appropriately".

"These people will not be able to get work locally, it's a tragedy. I feel sorry for them," said shopper Elizabeth Hubbard.

"The warning signs were there but everyone clings on to hope. It looks like that has been dashed now.

"I do not know what will come of the area - they are one of the biggest employers, the whole town is hanging on by its fingernails. This is hugely significant to everyone."

James Williams
BBC Wales Brexit correspondent

It's the Brexit equivalent of a Rorschach test - you can interpret the inkblot or decision in different ways.

Those who want to see us stay in the EU see Brexit as a factor, whilst Brexiteers point the finger of blame at the wider pressures bearing down on the automotive industry - from a shift to electric cars to falling demand from China.

Ford announced back in December that it was restructuring its operations right across Europe.

As part of that change, a plant at Bordeaux in France is to be closed and thousands of jobs cut in Germany. Brexit, obviously, was not a factor in those decisions.

Given that context, here in Wales and the UK, the additional issue of Brexit and the ongoing uncertainty over what kind of economic relationship we'll have with EU's single market doesn't help matters.

Nissan, when it announced its decision to move production from Sunderland to Japan, said Brexit uncertainty is not helping them "plan for the future" whilst Honda said that its plant closure in Swindon wasn't related to our departure from the EU.

In a few hours time, we'll see if Ford makes any reference to Brexit in its decision.

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “Ford will be taking an economic sledgehammer to the Welsh economy in an act of gross industrial sabotage if it doesn’t urgently reverse these closure plans.

“Instead of betraying workers who have worked tirelessly to make Bridgend one of the most efficient engine plants in the world, Ford bosses should be rebalancing global engine production from Mexico and India to Bridgend. There is a global yearly market of some 500,000 for the Dragon engine and we demand our fair share of that.

“The UK is Ford’s biggest European market, it holds first and second place in UK car sales yet disgracefully doesn’t produce a single vehicle here. If Ford wants to sell vehicles in this country it has a responsibility to maintain a strong manufacturing footprint here not run off into the sunset to cheaper markets where sales are low but profits high.

“Unite representatives across all of Ford’s UK sites have previously stated if any plant in the UK is faced with closure or compulsory redundancies that they would all move to a ballot for industrial action.

“Ford bosses should be in no doubt. Unite will not stand back and let Ford turn its back on its loyal UK workforce and allow our members’ livelihoods to be shredded because they are cheaper and easier to fire than their counterparts elsewhere in the world.

“In the coming days Unite will be consulting with our members across all of Ford’s UK sites on our next steps. We will also be working with the Welsh government and calling on UK ministers to step in to bring pressure to bear to make Ford rethink these disastrous closure plans.”

Barber Michael Hanlon opened in the town mainly for work from Sony and Ford employees. But he feels like both main employers are now gone.

He said: "It's devastating. It's going to destroy our town, definitely," he said.

"It is the knock-on. It is not just the workers, there is the supply chain."

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said: “This is devastating news for workers, their families and the wider community. The effects of this decision will be felt across the Welsh economy, but nowhere as acutely as in Bridgend.

“The Welsh and UK Governments must urgently do all they can to support employees, help them find new work and protect Bridgend’s economy. However, we must accept that nothing can stop this being a dark day for Bridgend and the Welsh car industry."

She went on to blame Brexit for the closure and made a call for another referendum on leaving the EU.