DISGRUNTLED workers at a Ford plant in Belgium have launched a 24-hour strike to protest against proposed job cuts.

The US car firm last week announced plans to axe 12,000 jobs worldwide, with about 3,000 at its plant in Genk, Belgium.

The company has called off plans to produce its Focus model at the plant, leading to the loss of almost a third of its 9,500 staff.

A Ford spokesman confirmed the plant was not operating following the strike action, but said unions had promised to have workers back at their posts yesterday.

Despite the promise, workers are still expected to continue to blockade the plant.

The spokesman said that he had no idea how long the blockade would persist, or how Ford would be able to keep production going when the factory gates were barred.