Ford axes Belgian jobs

US car maker Ford is to cut at least 1,400 jobs at its Belgian plant in Genk.

The cuts eliminate about 15% of the workforce and herald an overhaul of its operations in Belgium.

Ford will now modernise the plant in order to produce at least four of its new models there, including the next generation of the Focus and the Mondeo Sedan.

Meanwhile, production of the Ford Transit van will move to the company's new plant in Turkey.

Ford suffered a $5.07bn (£3.52bn) loss during the last three months of 2001 and announced a total of 35,000 job losses worldwide.

A spokesman for the group said the Belgian job cuts were under contemplation when the restructuring was announced in January.