And now for some good news in the region!

Date Posted: 25 Jan 2012

Vauxhall announced the factory had been manufacturing 47 Astras an hour since July 2011, leading to a total output of 139,528 for the full year, of which 129,648 were Sports Tourers.

Around 91% of Sports Tourers produced were bound for export to mainland Europe and beyond with a particularly powerful uptake in Germany where 50,153 were sold last year.

Demand was very robust in Germany according to reports.

Vauxhall said Ellesmere Port had made a contribution to "outstanding production" figures in the commercial car sector where the manufacturer has a 60 percent share of the British market.

The company makes the majority of its commercial automobiles at its Luton factory but the Cheshire plant does produce the Astravan.

Good news indeed for the region!