PRODUCTION was halted at Ford's Southampton factory yesterday after a wildcat strike by blue-collar staff.

A handful of workers downed tools at the body and paint spray section of the plant at Swaythling.

The unofficial walkout at the factory, which makes Ford Transit vans, caught unions and Ford bosses by surprise. It was unclear to them why the stoppage took place. But a striking worker, who did not want to be named, told the Daily Echo "morale is lower than a snake's belly".

"People have just said, 'I've had enough.' It's been building up for some time. It used to be good to work here but now it's not," he said.

He added that staff bonding courses had also proved unpopular, contributing to the unrest. Ford is also in pay negotiations with unions and he said that, too, had been a factor.

A Ford spokesman said: "There has been unconstitutional action at the plant, with a number of employees leaving during their working hours, resulting in the stoppage of production.

"The plant management is unclear as to the reasons for the stoppage."

More than 1,000 people are employed at the plant, which makes on average 250 Ford Transit vans a day. The Transport and General Workers' Union, which represents blue-collar staff, was unavailable for comment.