AN ESTATE version of the Astra could bring a third shift at Ellesmere Port’s Vauxhall plant forward by six months and create new jobs.

Vauxhall/Opel chief executive Nick Reilly, who was plant manager between 1990 and 1994, visited the site where he saw the new variation of the successful Astra model.

It is due to be unveiled in August and go on sale in November, but if the recovery of the car market continues he said a third shift due to start in the middle of next year could be brought forward to the end of this year.

“The estate looks really good,” said Mr Reilly. “It will be produced in Ellesmere Port for the whole of Europe and that’s very positive.

“The estate will add volume and will take the plant to a third shift, maybe by the end of this year or early next.

“If the volume goes up and the car is successful and the market recovers we could look for more people.”

US parent company General Motors appointed Mr Reilly to revamp the European Vauxhall/Opel network.

More than 9,000 jobs will be cut and Antwerp’s car plant faces closure.

But Ellesmere Port, one of the group’s most efficient plants employing 2,000, escaped job cuts and can anticipate a relatively stable future.

Mr Reilly said his Friday afternoon tour was “very encouraging”, adding: “My message has been thank you for the efforts you have put in in a pretty tough 15 months for everyone.

“Now they can see the fruits of their efforts. Capacity has to be reduced in Europe but in this case we are not reducing capacity, we are increasing it and that speaks volumes.”