The boss of Ford in Europe today appeared before MPs to answer questions about the closure of the Bridgend engine plant.

Steven Armstrong told the Welsh Affairs Committee in Westminster that the plant was not sustainable and Ford had no choice but to close it unless there was another Ford product to be made there.

Pressed on whether anything could save the plant by MPs, he said: "We proposed the closure because we don’t have a sustainable future in terms of volume product from Ford Motor Company.

"There may be opportunities to repurpose the facility but without another Ford product, I don’t believe we will come to a different conclusion."

He says Brexit was not the reason for shutting Bridgend but that it would affect other UK facilities if the UK leaves without a deal.

He said: "I’ve been very clear for the last two-and-a-half years since the referendum result that if we were to face tariffs and friction at the borders that would put a significant burden on our business whether it’s a tariff on materials going out or vehicles coming back in.

"We’ve previously publicly quoted that could be as much as $1 billion a year in incremental costs.

"That doesn’t mean we would immediately close all the facilities in the UK but it would make it much more difficult for the facilities to be competitive and that’s just a fact of the business I’m in."

Also giving evidence today was Welsh Government cabinet member Ken Skates about discussions the Welsh Government had with Ford before to the announcement, the future support for those affected by the closure and Government incentives to encourage business to south Wales.

Unions and Bridgend County Council leader Huw David also appeared.