Luxury car maker Jaguar is stopping production of its Baby Jag for a week as a "prudent measure" to ensure it continues to meet market demands.

The company's Halewood plant on Merseyside will also be put onto a four-day week, with no production on a number of Fridays.

The decision means more than 1,500 cars will not be made during the halt in production.

On Wednesday the Ford-owned company said the Baby Jag, or X-Type, continues to sell "very well".

2,500 workers

However, a spokesman said: "We are taking prudent measures to ensure that our stock remains in line with demand.

"The global market remains competitive but there are still uncertainties in major markets including the US."

He said the move was being made to ensure the company does not overstock its cars.

The Halewood factory, which employs 2,500 workers, will not build any cars for the week beginning 28 October.

Jaguar said its two factories in the West Midlands normally closed down for a week in October.

Workers at Halewood, which used to produce Escorts for Ford, will be paid despite the production shutdown.

Around 1,650 cars are usually built in a week at Halewood, with prices for the X-type starting at �19,995.