Nissan suspends work at Sunderland plant until end of week due to coronavirus outbreak

Automotive giant Nissan has suspended production until the end of the week at its Sunderland plant as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The company - which employs around 7,000 people at Sunderland, andsupports thousands of more jobs in the supply chain, said it had putproduction on hold because of disruption to its supply chains and adrop in market demand, both caused by the Covid-19 emergency.

Nissan follows other carmakers in shutting down production, includingVauxhall, Peugeot and Renault.

Car plants in Spain and Italy had already been closed to protect staffand slow the spread of the virus.

Labour MP for Washington and Sunderland West Sharon Hodgson reacted to the news on social media.