Thousands of MG Rover car workers were today facing redundancy after hopes of a proposed deal with a Chinese partner finally collapsed.

The pensions of thousands of workers facing redundancy at car giant MG Rover will be protected thanks to new measures which only came into force on Wednesday, experts said today.

Thousands of people are expected to join a huge march and rally in protest at the decision to end car production at one of Vauxhall's UK plants.