Increasing numbers of companies are to shut down over the Christmas period as major industries seek to save jobs threatened by the economic downturn.

Car manufacturing is one of the worst-hit sectors, as consumer demand continues to fall. Ford is to close its Southampton plant for a month and Vauxhall will shut down its factories in Ellesmere Port and Luton for more than two weeks. Honda will also halt production in its Swindon plant and BMW in its Oxford base for an extended holiday period. Tyre-maker Michelin will close its factory in Stoke-on-Trent at Christmas and New Year for the first time, because it is accumulating too much stock.