An historic car parts manufacturer is to close with the loss of all 200 jobs, it was announced today. 

Wagon Automotive, in Pelsall Road, Brownhills, fell into administration earlier this month but has now announced there will be no rescue package.

Workers were told the news at a meeting this morning before being sent home unemployed.

The factory, which made panels and door parts, can trace its roots to a railway engineering company set up at the end of the First World War. It supplies Honda which is set to close its Swindon factory for two months next year.

A total of 500 people work for Wagon at Brownhills, its Birmingham headquarters and a factory in Coventry. The Birmingham and Coventry bases will continue to operate for the time being.

Councillor Alan Paul, whose son Ian has worked there for 12 years, said workers were “absolutely fuming”.

He said: “There had been no warning that all 200 were going to go and they are all absolutely fuming. It has been handled terribly and everyone feels let down.

“My son and his colleagues have been told the Brownhills plant is finished and all 200 have gone.”

Brian Wint, aged 60, from Pelsall, has been a powder-coater at the firm for 24 years. “I’m absolutely gutted,”he said.

“It was more than just a job, it was a way of life. I’m in shock.”

Mark Hitchin, aged 42, from Beechdale, has been a setter operator for 14 years. He said: “As far as we knew, there were going to make 80 people redundant, but that was just a smokescreen.

“The way we have been treated is disgusting. We’ve been told to take our things and don’t bother coming back.”

As well as its UK staff, the company employs 4,000 people in Europe. It was not announced yet what is happening to those firms.