Japanese car giant Honda has confirmed it will close its plant in Swindon in 2021 with the loss of 3,500 jobs.

The company said that following a consultation, which included a number of organisations and groups, including the Government, it had decided that "no viable alternatives" remained.

Honda will begin immediately talking to employees about redundancy packages in the run-up to the factory's closure.

Jason Smith, boss of Honda UK, said: “It is with a heavy heart that today we confirm the closure of Honda’s factory in Swindon. We understand the impact this decision has on our associates, suppliers and the wider community. We are committed to continuing to support them throughout the next phases of the consultation process.”

The Swindon plant was officially opened in September 2001 and cost £130m to build. It made about 160,000 Civic and CR-V models last year, accounting for just over a tenth of UK car production.

Honda now plans to channel its “resources, capabilities and production systems” into electric vehicles "in response to changes to the automotive industry".

The closure of the plant, first mooted in February, is likely to affect thousands more people in the local area, with as many as 6,000 jobs in the supply chain at risk. This is an estimate of the numbers employed by companies that make everything from car seats to brake parts for car manufacturers.