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The staff at Ford in Bridged voted to reject the terms of redundancy offered by the US firm.

Ford announced last week it planned to close the engine plant in the South Wales town, which would result the loss of 1,700 jobs.

A ballot of both Unite and GMB members took place in which staff were asked whether they agreed with Ford's plans.

Meetings with workers discussed how unions should proceed, which were followed by a consultative ballot.Union leaders said this gave them an "overwhelming mandate" for them to fight for the future of the plant.

Peter Hughes, Unite Wales Regional Secretary, said: "Our members at Ford Bridgend have today clearly expressed their view that they are willing to take on Ford and fight hard to secure a future for their world class plant.

"The consultative ballot clearly demonstrates that the workforce are not prepared to lie down and quietly accept their fate.

"They are not prepared to let Ford deliver an act of unprecedented industrial sabotage, the ramifications of which would be devastation of the Bridgend area and the Welsh automotive supply chain.

"Ford must now acknowledge that their strategy to exit Bridgend does not have the confidence of the workforce. On a wider level they must also acknowledge the overwhelming anger expressed by the Welsh public and from politicians from across the political spectrum.