US car giant Ford has called union leaders from its Bridgend plant in South Wales to a meeting at its UK headquarters.

Ford’s Bridgend site is a dedicated engine assembly line and directly employs around 1,700 people. Several hundred more are employed nearby in the supply chain.

In January, Ford said it was cutting its workforce in Wales by 1,000, with 370 roles going in the first phase of redundancies.

Union representatives from the factory have been asked to attend a formal meeting at the manufacturer’s UK headquarters in Essex on Thursday.

ITV News said the Bridgend site would close altogether but Ford said it would not comment on speculation.

Trade unions said their leaders would be meeting the firm’s executives on Thursday.

A Unite spokesperson said: “Unite will be meeting Ford first thing tomorrow morning and will comment further once the details of any announcement are known.

“Our priority is our members’ jobs, the communities and livelihoods in the supply chain that Ford Bridgend supports.”

Jeff Beck, an organiser with the GMB union, said: “Obviously we haven’t as yet had any confirmation of any closure but we can confirm we’re meeting with Ford tomorrow and a new agenda has been arranged, which we’re yet to see.

“If our worst fears are confirmed it will mean disaster for both our members in Bridgend and the community at large, who we will stand by the tough thick and thin.”

Car manufacturing in Britain has declined over the past year amid a fall in overseas demand and fears over Brexit.

Ford rival Honda announced earlier this year it would end manufacturing in the UK altogether with the loss of 3,500 jobs.