The assembly lines, which produce about 400 Transit vans a day, stopped at the end of last week due to a lack of parts normally made at the plant in Genk, Belgium.

The 1,600 workers are continuing to report for duty but are taking part in training rather than normal duties.

Senior management, meeting on Tuesday, are likely to consider future options for the Southampton factory.

Workers in Genk are blockading deliveries to and from the plant in protest at massive job losses.

The Belgian workers are fighting plans to lay-off about 3,000 staff.