SIXTEEN years ago Steve McCord was among the proud workers who saw the first Honda roll off the line at South Marston.

And although he wasn't working when the two millionth car was produced late on Thursday, the 42-year-old brought something special to the factory yesterday - his daughter.

Jess McCord, who is 18, has just joined the company as one of the 5,000 associates - as the employees are called - and is doing a technical training programme which involves both work and study which Honda organises.

Both father and daughter were present for yesterday's photocall when the two millionth vehicle stood beside the first-ever car produced in Swindon.

Steve said: "It's amazing to think that we've built two million vehicles and I'm proud to have been part of it."

And Jess said she was delighted to be treading the same career path as her dad.

She said: "Joining Honda on their technical training programme is an excellent job for me and I'm proud to be following my dad."

Alongside the McCords were fellow associates Maria Cahill, Richard Robinson and Chris Roberts, who have been at South Marston since 1992.

The two millionth vehicle produced is a Honda CR-V, a 4x4 with a diesel engine. The factory builds 100,000 a year, the majority of which goes for export.

The first car built at Swindon was a Honda Accord and although it is now almost 16 years old it is practically priceless, being the first of its kind.

It is kept in pristine condition at South Marston, has only done 300 miles and is only brought out for special occasions.

But there's no sentimentality over the two millionth which will go to market and will probably be bought by a UK customer.

The 1992 Accord cost just under £14,000 when it was manufactured and an equivalent Accord model will be around £20,000.

A top of the range CR-V costs £28,000.

The factory will build about 240,000 vehicles at South Marston this year of which 150,000 will be the Honda Civic and the remaining the CR-V.

Last year the Swindon plant showed a 22 per cent increase in production and recruited more than 600 people to take the workforce up to 5,000.

Among the associates there are 58 nationalities.

David Hodgetts, director at Honda UK Manufacturing, praised the staff for the excellent job they do in putting both Swindon and Honda on the map.

"We are extremely proud of our workforce," he said. "The two millionth vehicle is a major milestone which demonstrates the scale of our achievement. And we will be building many, many more."

In November the millionth Honda Civic rolled off the line at the factory.

Julie Cameron, head of corporate communications, said: "The fact that we have built two million vehicles here in Swindon shows our commitment to the UK.

"Of around the 150,000 Civics which are built here this year, a total of 44,000 are for the home market."

From Swindon the Civic and the CR-V are exported to 60 countries and Honda has invested £1.38bn in the town.

Producing the two millionth vehicle was coupled with the announcement that South Marston will be investing £80m to upgrade equipment.