SIXTEEN hundred workers at motor giant Ford at Swaythling today received a bumper Easter egg in the shape of a deal which secures jobs and is a big vote of confidence in the Southampton factory.

It came in the shape of confirmation of a massive £289m order for which the Transit van built at the factory is the star. It's the biggest ever order for the factory and for Ford in Britain.

The Southampton-built Transit, already well-established as the best-selling commercial vehicle, is the principal vehicle in the order placed by telecommunications company BT under a three-year contract. The first vehicles under the deal have already been supplied by the factory.

The order is a massive shot in the arm for the motor company, which is still restructuring its European operations and now pointing the way to a fresh lease of life as its troubled American parent organisation struggles to get to grips with factory closures and massive job losses.

Today the Wide Lane factory is the sole remaining production centre in Britain producing complete vehicles which carry the famous blue oval badge.

BT operates a fleet of 22,000 medium commercial vehicles and the factory will supply the telecommunications company with long and short wheel base diesel Transits.

Steve Parker, Ford's commercial vehicles director, said: "We are delighted that BT has chosen to extend its partnership with Ford for the supply of medium commercial vehicles.

"Our relationship with BT goes back over 15 years and is built on the strength of the Transit product and its outstanding reputation for durability and low cost of ownership."

Ford has been supplying Transits to BT since 1986 and also has a three-year contract which began in July 2001 to supply cars on the firm's user-chooser scheme which includes every vehicle in the Ford range.

A three-year contract from July 2000 also sees Ford supplying light commercial vehicles - the Fiesta Van and Escort Van to BT, and the telecommunications company will be one of the first to receive Ford's new light commercial vehicle, the Transit Connect. Janet Entwistle, general manager, BT Fleet said: "Our business is based on providing the most efficient services supported in the most cost-effective manner. Our decision to place this contract with Ford is based on the Transit's whole life costs for our operations."

The Ford Transit has been the UK's best-selling commercial vehicle for 36 years, since its debut in 1965, and has sold over four million worldwide. The new Ford Transit continued the award-winning Transit's success, - being named Van of the Year 2001 and taking several other awards across Europe.