Honda production lineAn extra shift has been introduced at the UK factory of car giant Honda, where hundreds more jobs have been created.

The 500 new employees take the total number of workers at the Swindon plant to 3,500.

The Japanese firm said the second shift coincided with growing demand for its new Civic hatchback models.

Production at the Wiltshire plant is forecast to double to 180,000 this year.

Speaking in December, Honda Motor Europe president Manabu Nishimae said Honda remained totally committed to building cars and engines in Europe, with Swindon at the heart of its European manufacturing activities.

Honda director Andy Piatek said: "I am delighted to welcome our new associates. We are proud of the skills of our workforce and the quality and reliability of the products we build."