GEARBOX maker Getrag Ford says an “extreme fall” in demand for cars has led it to close its Halewood plant for a month from today.

Staff at the plant are starting their Christmas break a week earlier than normal and will return to work on January 12, several days later than usual.

The plant employs around 700 people building gear boxes for Ford Transit vans and other vehicles including Land Rovers.

Demand for new cars has slumped in recent months, thanks to the credit crunch. The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show registrations of new cars fell in November to 100,333 – down 36.8% on November, 2007.

Getrag Ford is a 50:50 joint venture between Ford – former owner of the neighbouring Jaguar Land Rover assembly plant – and German car parts group Getrag.

A Getrag Ford spokeswoman said: “Getrag Ford Transmissions has also had to take measures to adjust its production to the extreme fall in market demand.”

Both Jaguar Land Rover and Vauxhall have announced non-production periods to cope with falling sales.

Vauxhall, which employs 2,200 at its Ellesmere Port plant, will close on Friday for a month – 12 days earlier than usual.

Jaguar Land Rover, which employs more than 2,000 people in Halewood, had a non-production week last week.