Car giant Vauxhall is planning a restructuring at its main car plant in Cheshire with a "phased reduction" of 241 jobs.

The motor giant said it aimed to achieve the cuts in Ellesmere Port through voluntary redundancies, adding that the decision was not Brexit-related.

A statement said: "This restructuring is critical to ensure that the Ellesmere Port plant develops its competitiveness during this difficult time within the industry."

"Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port workers have made huge sacrifices and worked hard to ensure the carmaker recently returned to profit for the first time in two decades. Mick Chalmers, UNITE

Credit: Peter Byrne/PA Archive/PA Images

Vauxhall Motors announced that it has entered into a 45-day consultation period with Trade Union and employee representatives to propose a restructuring of the Ellesmere Port Manufacturing Plant. Vauxhall statement

A worker told the Liverpool Echo news that staff on the production lines had walked out on hearing the news

The company has entered a 45-day consultation with unions.