Hundreds of people have been left fearing for their jobs amid speculation Ford could close its engine plant in Bridgend, south Wales.

The car manufacturer, which employs 1,500 workers at the site and supports many more in supply firms, has called a meeting with union leaders on Thursday at its Essex headquarters.

Union officials are worried about the future of the engine factory, but the car manufacturer has refused to comment on speculation.

“Unite will be meeting Ford first thing tomorrow morning and will comment further once the details of any announcement are known,” a spokesperson for Unite said. “Our priority is our members’ jobs, the communities and livelihoods in the supply chain that Ford Bridgend supports.”

GMB regional organiser Jeff Beck added: “We haven’t as yet had any confirmation of any closure but we can confirm we’re meeting with Ford tomorrow and a new agenda has been arranged, which we’re yet to see.

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“If our worst fears are confirmed it will mean disaster for both our members in Bridgend and the community at large, who we will stand by the through thick and thin.

“The ironic part is, in the week that Donald Trump is meeting the UK prime minister and talking up a special relationship and trade deal with the UK and the US, if the plant does close the new line is likely to be taken to Mexico by an American company.

“So much for the special relationship, Mr Trump.”

The Bridgend plant has been under threat because of falling demand for the two engines it makes, and lower projections for the Dragon engine it is scheduled to start making this year. It has been manufacturing engines for 40 years. The site opened in 1980 and covers an area of 60 acres.

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Ford announced last month it was cutting 7,000 white collar jobs worldwide, with up to 550 expected in the UK.

The US manufacturer said the cuts represented 10 per cent of its global salaried workforce and 20 per cent of its management positions.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) released last week revealed that the number of cars built in the UK in April plummeted by almost half compared with a year ago.

Just under 71,000 cars rolled off production lines in the month, a fall of 44.5 per cent, as factories shut across the country at the end of March during Brexit uncertainty, the trade association said.

Manufacturing for domestic and overseas markets fell by 43.7 per cent and 44.7 per cent respectively as most carmakers brought forward, and extended, production stoppages normally scheduled for the summer holiday period.