The Sunderland plant opened in 1986

A row has broken out over plans by the car firm to move 60 workers 240 miles away in a shake-up of its purchasing department.

Trade union Amicus claims Nissan refused to hold talks with them over compulsory re-location of the department to Bedfordshire.

Balloting of workers in the purchasing department could mean that Nissan are faced with the threat of a strike for the first time since the plant opened in 1986.

At a meeting on Sunday, Derek Simpson, the General Secretary of Amicus, told shop stewards they and the Nissan workforce had his full support.

He said: "The way Nissan has treated its purchasing staff in refusing to even discuss with us their re-location is simply diabolical.

"We intend to back our members and call for the company to begin negotiations with us now"

The result of the ballot is expected on the 8 December

The Wearside plant is rated the world's most efficient car plant and was set a 2003 target of building 350,000 cars, with some models exported back to Japan.