Toyota confirms production halt

Car giant Toyota is to halt production in Derbyshire for up to a month next year because of the recession.

There will be a two-week break at Burnaston in late February and early March, likely to be followed by a further two-week stoppage later.

The nightshift had been suspended in September due to a drop in demand.

A new version of the Avensis was launched just last month but the firm said "difficult market conditions" had forced another review.

A statement from the company said: "As the result of continuing difficult market conditions - which present a challenging environment across the industry in general - we have again reviewed our sales forecast, which requires a further reduction in our planned volumes in the new year."

The firm employs more than 4,200 at the Burnaston plant.