JAPANESE car firm Honda has answered concerns from trade union leaders that it might abandon Swindon.

In yesterday's Swindon Advertiser, we reported fears by Derek Simpson, the general secretary of Amicus, that foreign car firms may be tempted to move to Eastern Europe to take advantage of cheaper labour.

Mr Simpson was speaking at a Parliamentary committee set up in response to job losses at Rover and Peugeot plants in the last year.

But Honda has pointed to the £1.3bn investment it has made in Swindon since it moved here 20 years ago.

A spokeswoman said: "Honda is already planning a record level of production of 190,000 cars this year and also currently investigating how to increase production capacity to support high demand for the new European unique models and diesel engine ranges."