VAUXHALL'S Ellesmere Port plant is likely to close in 12 months if it does not secure the right to build electric vehicles.

That's the stark situation facing the plant at present, after it was revealed Vauxhall owners Stellantis plan to phase out manufacturing the current Vauxhall Astra model over the next year.

It's a crunch time for the North Road plant, which employs 800 workers and has thousands more dependent on the factory's output.

Previously the plan was for a new car with a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) to be manufactured at the Vauxhall factory, but this was scuppered when the Government announced that, as part of efforts to cut emissions, it was banning the sale of cars with conventional engines from 2030.

In an 80-page document cited by national newspaper The Telegraph, the 'first forecast for European main events' included an 'end-of-life' summary for the current Vauxhall Astra, which will also be phased out at the carmaker's other European plant in Poland.

Hopes now rest with the Ellesmere Port plant being given the go-ahead to manufacture non-ICE vehicles and therefore save thousands of jobs.

The answer could come in the form of a new model of van Stellantis announced at the beginning of this month.

The new plug-in hydrogen hybrid van is based on the same architecture as the battery-electric version of the Vauxhall Vivaro, and is due to be launched in left-hand drive markets at the end of 2021, with the UK following afterwards.

Whatever vehicle Vauxhall would end up making in Ellesmere Port, it is clear investment would be required at the factory to allow for the development of non-ICE cars in the future.

Currently Stellantis have been in talks with the Government on seeking financial incentives, along with commitments on the post-Brexit trade of auto parts including batteries.

The carmaker confirmed in February that it was considering "different scenarios" for the future of the factory and described discussions with UK officials over its future as "productive but not conclusive".

The Government said last month that it is "absolutely committed" to safeguarding the future of the plant.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng made the comments to MPs in response to calls for a “successful, renewed commitment” to the site.