Today BMW launched it production of it's new Mini at it's plant in Crowley, Oxford. The launch took place in the presence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown.

The Crowley plant first began production of Mini's in 2001 and currently produces 200,000 of them a year.

Brown spoke of how he viewed the staff and their success with the mini as proof that Britain can, "compete and succeed in the global economy'. Brown said that the start of production of the new mini was a "great day for Britain.'