Ford showrooms in Belfast are to be picketed in an escalation of the Visteon dispute, a workers’ spokesman said today.

There are fresh hopes of a settlement for the protesting Visteon workers in Belfast today.

Thousands of people are expected at a rally in support of workers laid off at the Visteon plant in the North today.

Almost £100,000 (€110,000) could be clawed back in government investments in the collapsed Visteon car parts plant in the North, the North's Enterprise Minister said today.

Protests against job cuts at car parts firm Visteon spread today when workers attempted to occupy more factories.

More than 100 workers have spent the night inside the Visteon factory in Belfast as part of a dispute over redundancy pay.