Car production at Ford's Dagenham plant comes to an end today after 71 years.

Under plans unveiled in June 2000, Fiesta production will be replaced by the manufacturing of diesel engines for the entire Ford group on the back of a £340 million investment in the Essex plant.

About 1,100 workers are expected to lose their jobs, with some 250 given news roles at the plant. Ford says that an extra 500 workers will be taken on as diesel engine output is brought up to speed.