BMW cuts Mini production

BMW will cut production of the Mini and extend its Christmas closure from 12 to 30 days.

The Mini production lines, based in Swindon and Oxford, will build 9000 fewer cars, as the credit crunch hits sales of new cars throughout the UK.

The German company is also considering cutting production at its Hamms Hall engine plant in Birmingham.

However, BMW is still expecting to build around 240,000 Minis this year - the same as during 2007.