Vauxhall to shut Ellesmere Port and Luton factories for week

The Ellesmere Port plant will start building the new Astra in 2015

Vauxhall is stopping production for a week at its Ellesmere Port and Luton plants because of falling car sales across Europe.

In a statement, the company said the move would "avoid building up stock".

John Fetherston, of union Unite, said: "Workers are not shocked, they know it is related to the downturn in Europe. Other car-makers are also affected."

Workers at the plants will continue to be paid during the shutdown, which starts on 24 September.

Approximately 1,100 workers at Luton and 2,100 workers at Ellesmere Port are affected.

Production of the next generation Vivaro is due to start at Luton in 2014 and assembly of the new Astra at Ellesmere Port is scheduled to start in 2015.

Mr Fetherston added: "Workers are confident in the future of the plant."