Georgiansilver - Just to set the record straight

They have NOT bought the whole factory lock, stock and barrel and reconstructed it in China. After they took what they wanted, much as BMW did, the whole site was handled by the accountants, auditors etc who handed it on to St Modwen property developers.

They did strip out certain areas of machinery, doing major damage in the process rendering it almost useless. (They did not see the necessity to disconnect equipment rather than just rip it out of the ground!)

The workforce which went back to China with the equipment was the workforce which came over to 'take away' the equipment. As I said my husband worked there for almost 40years and we do not know anyone who's gone over to help them.

They did not need our workforce to show them how to build cars - they've been building their own and assembling others, for years.

A large part of the assembly area is still at Longbridge, and a small workforce of, I think, 600 will be assembling Rover's from kits imported from China, starting in May, this year.

The rest of the factory, including the printing works which was the original profession of 'Mr Austin' before he turned to cars 102 years ago has now been completely flattened and and is in the process of being redeveloped, offices etc.