The plant was once the largest tractor factory in the world

The company - owned by American agricultural machinery giant Agco - is closing its Banner Lane plant with the loss of more than a thousand jobs.

The last tractor rolled off the production line in December and the remaining workers will leave the factory on Friday.

The plant, which employed more than 5,000 people in the 70s and was the largest tractor factory in the world, closes after more than 60 years of production.

Lower costs

It was hoped that around a hundred workers would keep their jobs making components but a company feasibility study ruled that out.

Agco announced the Coventry closure last June and said it would concentrate tractor production on its other sites in France and Brazil which benefit from lower production costs.

Jim Brown, plant director, said: "It's a sad day.

"It's a sad day for the workers and it's a sad day for me personally.

"Massey Ferguson was the pride and joy of Coventry, making tractors famous throughout the world."

If we had tried to sustain a manufacturing facility here it would not have been efficient. Declan Hayden Marketing Director

"It is very disappointing to see the decline of manufacturing in Coventry."

The company will base its European headquarters in Coventry but the only tractors left will be those in the company museum.

Declan Hayden, the company's marketing director, said the decision was taken to keep the brand competitive in its world markets.

He explained: "If we had tried to sustain a manufacturing facility here it would not have been efficient.

"It would have required significant investment beyond that we now have to make.