Thousands of people are expected to march through Coventry in support of workers at Jaguar's Browns Lane plant which is threatened with closure.

The demonstration on Saturday is in protest at parent company Ford's plans to end production at the site, with the loss of more than 1,100 jobs.

Workers will be balloted next week on whether to take strike action against the proposed cuts.

Jaguar says cuts are necessary as the company has been making serious losses.

The march is expected to start at 10am in the city centre.

It follows an announcement on 17 September, when Ford said it wanted to end production of XK and XJ Jaguars in Coventry.

Jaguar said the cuts were necessary because the company was making losses and had seen car sales drop in America.

Workers ballot

Under the plans, there will be 400 voluntary redundancies and 425 jobs moved to the Castle Bromwich factory in Birmingham.

Jaguar will also lose 750 mostly white-collar staff, as office work is merged with Land Rover.

Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union say the planned job cuts will cause untold damage to manufacturing in general in the West Midlands.

Ballot papers on strike action are to be issued to staff who are union members on Monday.

Jaguar have urged their workers not to walk out, saying it would not be in the interests of the firm, employees or customers.

The result of the ballot is expected in mid-December.