JCB has said it will invest £20m in its UK factories this year to keep pace with a boom in demand from the so-called emerging markets.

Digger giant JCB warned today its soaring sales growth was under pressure as the credit crunch slowed construction demand this year.

Digger maker JCB is to give its entire UK workforce a £1,000 (€1,388) Christmas bonus following a year of soaring sales, it emerged today.

Joseph Bamford, the founder of the JCB excavator company, has died at the age of 84.