The car giant is to end the night shift at its UK plant, workers have been told. Picture: PA.

The news was announced on Wednesday, October 9, with Unite the Union saying it believed no jobs would be lost due to the change.

Workers may lose a shift allowance as a result. Three thousand employees currently work night shifts.

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Nissan's Sunderland plant.

The move follows a decline in car sales and has raised fears of a knock-on effect in firms that supply Nissan with parts.

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “Unite has been aware of this announcement for some time and our officers and reps at the plant have been working hard to ensure that the full workforce is protected.

“As a result, no jobs will be lost with current demand being consolidated into the remaining day shifts.

“Protecting jobs and the families and communities that rely on them is what strong unions do and Unite has done that again here in very difficult circumstances.”

Nissan said last week that plans to build the Qashqai in Sunderland had not changed following speculation it could change its mind if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The company said that, along with other firms with major investments in the UK, it was waiting for clarity on what the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU will look like.