Two hundred jobs in the South West have been saved after car manufacturer Ford stepped in for a local dealership.

Ford Retail UK paid an undisclosed sum for Ford Brunel, the first independent dealership it has bought on the UK mainland.

Brunel has five sites in the region, including three dealerships, and employs 700 people nationally.

A spokesperson for the company told BBC News Online: "The mood here is very upbeat.

"That the manufacturer has the confidence to buy a dealership is excellent and gives a lot of security and opportunities.

"It was important for Ford to secure the areas we work in," he added.

Independent dealer Brunel Ford went into receivership last October. It has operations in Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham.