HONDA will create more than 1,000 new jobs with the opening of a second new car plant near Swindon which will add the capacity of 100,000 units a year. It will bring Honda's UK output to 250,000 Civics, Accords and, from autumn 2001, a new generation Logo supermini.

The expanded operation will take the Japanese car maker's UK investment to £1.15 billion since 1985 - none of it from public funds. The company is already looking to recruit 120 engineers and will be taking on a further 800 production staff between this autumn and 2002. Thousands of applications are expected from Rover employees.