Local suppliers to benefit from Vauxhall news

A number of Shropshire companies were this afternoon due to cash in on Vauxhall's announcement of a multi-million pound investment in its Ellesmere Port car plant.

Car parts suppliers across Telford and Shropshire Vauxhall's car plant will be in line to reap new business from the decision to build the new Astra at the plant.

Gary Seale, of Whitchurch-based Cobra UK, said the move showed the strength of the UK car manufacturing industry.

"We think it's great for us, but it's good for UK Limited too. We can expand the plant, and we are now looking at growing again."

Cobra, which also has plants in Wolverhampton and Wrexham, has been in negotiations over its involvement in the new Astra and is now in pole position to add its lightweight components to the new car.

Mr Seale added: "It gives us a lot of confidence to invest as it is a big contract, and if it had gone it would have affected our numbers.

"We have already been to a few design meetings, but we had been walking on egg shells as people didn't know whether it would be built in the UK.

"We have just started 24 hour working, and we've never had that before."

Simon Griffiths, the Manufacturing Advisory Service area director, said the move was "great news on many fronts."