Ford's two UK engine plants are confirming large 2006 production increases and securing hundreds of new jobs, putting each on course for 1,000,000 engines a year by 2009.

Ford's centre for diesel engineering and manufacture at Dagenham, in Essex, saw a 24% rise in volumes last year. Two additional variants new to Dagenham, the 1.4 and 1.6-litre engines, will be launched within months, pushing output even higher in 2007.

In an ongoing recruitment drive which has created 250 jobs to date, engine production and maintenance specialists are being taken on by Ford Dagenham in readiness.

Dave Parker, Ford’s Dagenham plant manager, said: "This year brings Dagenham its most significant expansion in more than 30 years. Our new assembly line for 1.4 and 1.6 engines was installed last year and is now being tested, building pre-production units. I look forward to the line going live in the second quarter."

Dagenham's existing engine range spans four, six and eight cylinder diesel powerplants, from 1.8 to 3.6-litre capacity, Ford owned, Jaguar and Land Rover brands.