ROVER management and unions have come to an agreement over plans to shed 1,500 jobs.

The deal means there will be no four-day week as had been threatened.

It is understood that instead, the company will run assembly lines for four days a week, but keep workers in the plants for the full week and use the extra day for maintenance and training.

The deal came after talks in the Midlands yesterday.

The Cowley plant, which produces the Rover 800 and 600 executive cars, is expected to be cushioned from job cuts as it gears up for the introduction of the new R40 model. Further talks over working practices resume next month.

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