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The plan includes the setting up of an equal opportunities committee at all Ford plants in the UK.

Those involved said the plan was designed to achieve equality of opportunity in the workplace and to allow diversity to be "free from harassment of any kind".

Ford management says it has not ignored racism

The plan was thrashed out at a meeting in which Ford management, led by chief executive Jacques Nasser, met union leaders, including Transport and General Workers' chief Bill Morris.

"Following extensive and amicable discussions, we have agreed...to a mechanism to take the issue of diversity and equality within Ford forward," Mr Morris said after the talks.

Bill Morris of the TGWU says the agreement is more than merely warm words

"This is the fresh start that Dagenham needs and...will restore the confidence among the workforce," he said.

"We have an agreement in place. We are confident the company will deliver it. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating," he added.

Plan includes:

• Appointing a diversity manager responsible for diversity issues.

• A joint national equality opportunities and diversity committee will be established at national level and at each plant.

• A small joint steering group will be established to develop further details of the equality committees which will report back within 90 days.

The meeting, postponed from last week, followed a series of incidents at the Essex plant.

Jac Nasser, President of Ford, is disgusted at what has been happening

Problems came to a head last month when an Asian production worker said he had been subjected to a torrent of racist abuse and bullying.

Earlier this month workers voted in favour of holding a ballot on taking industrial action.

There have been two unofficial stoppages at the site - including a mass walkout this month which halted production of the top-selling Fiesta.