A JAPAN delegation is one of many options councillors discussed in response to Honda's decision to close the plant last night.

Swindon borough Council said the visit is one option in a bid to persuade the manufacturer to change its mind and build electric cars in Swindon, rather than move production to Japan.

A full council meeting last night discussed a cross-party motion on how to respond to the announcement from Honda this week to close the South Marston plant by 2021, with the loss of at least 3,500 jobs.

The motion included plans to write to Theresa May to ask for financial support for workers.

Councillors at the meeting also unanimously backed the move by unions to keep the plant in Swindon open, which has also been supported by the business secretary Greg Clark.