Toyota this week told workers at its Burnaston assembly plant that it wil temporarily scale down production due to difficult market conditions.

From September its Auris production line with scale down from the current two shifts daily to one for a five month period.

The measure will cut production by around 21,000 vehicles, equating to 150 fewer cars per day.

The plant expects none of its permanent staff on the shift to be affected, as they will undergo training and other activities, but it will review the number of temporary staff currently employed.

Burnaston, which assembles the Auris and Avensis, produces around 280,000 cars per year.

Toyota anticipates that the car market will pick up in 2009.