FORD workers were today dealt a devastating double body blow.

The motor giant confirmed it will be cutting production at its giant Swaythling plant to just a single shift and putting the plant on a shutdown for more than two weeks.

The single shift is initially planned for two months but union bosses and workers fear in the economic climate the company will make it permanent.

It is due to start on February 2 and end on April 3.

The lockdown of the factory will run from February 6 to February 23.

Unite regional officer Ian Woodland said: “I am quite shocked and to myself and many workers it has confirmed all the rumours that have been flying.

“It is a very worrying development and I don’t feel very confident that the company will go back to their usual shift arrangement in April and I don’t see that they will continue having people sat around on down days indefinitely.

“Workers are very concerned and to many this looks like the start of Ford pulling out of Southampton.”

The Daily Echo understands the Turkish plant has also moved to a single shift and made 1,000 workers redundant.