Automotive giant Nissan will resume production at its Sunderland plant next month, which employs 6,000 people.

Workers will return on a phased basis at first, with a single production line in operation manufacturing Qashqai and Juke models.

The company shut down production at the factory at the end of March due to the coronavirus pandemic, though it brought back a small number of workers in its drivetrain division in April.

A Nissan spokesman said: “A phased resumption of vehicle production will begin at Nissan Sunderland Plant on 8 June. It has been made possible following extensive work at the plant to allow the safe return of our employees, with a full and comprehensive set of measures in place to protect staff.”

Nissan is following a number of other automotive and manufacturing companies in partially returning to work. Luxury car maker Bentley recently re-opened its plant in Crewe while Jaguar Land Rover, Ford and Vauxhall have all brought some workers back.

During the lockdown, Nissan joined a project that aims to get 100,000 protective visors a week to NHS staff, and also set up a team in its training centre to make protective gowns for the NHS.