The first Nissan Bluebird rolled off the production line in 1986

Nissan's Sunderland Plant now produces 310,000 cars a year - a far cry from the original annual production target of 24,000 Bluebirds.

Its first Bluebird was built in 1986, when 470 staff worked at the plant.

Since then it has produced more than four million cars, and now employs 4,200 people.

Its Micras, Almeras and Primeras are sent to 55 markets around the world, including Japan itself.

My job on the first Bluebirds was to break open the crates they arrived in and lay out all the parts ready for production John Pigg, Nissan worker

Engineering manager Steve Clare, who joined Nissan in 1985 as a maintenance technician, said the main transfer line was then called the 'Liger Line' after the two national animals of the UK and Japan - the lion and tiger.

He said: "There have been lots of changes since then, for example in 1986 the body shop operated only 20 robots - these days the automation level in that shop is over 80%, with around 700 robots."

John Pigg, a team leader in material handling, added: "My job on the first Bluebirds was to break open the crates they arrived in and lay out all the parts ready for production.

"The plant has developed massively since then - I can remember the local farmer coming in and cutting hay in a field where our body and press shops now are."

The first Bluebird to drive off the Sunderland production line was donated to the city's Museum and Winter Gardens, where it remains on display.