Motor workers urged to have hope

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has applauded the scrappage scheme after the decline in car output slowed down.

Nikki Rooke, head of communications at the organisation, said they hoped interest in the market would continue and grow throughout the year.

She urged workers at car plants which have gone into shutdown to remain hopeful that they may be able to return to work soon but said that the SMMT was not expecting to see actual growth in production until at least the end of the year.

She said there was a still a long way to go before the industry reached a "a full recovery" but that the latest figures were "positive news".