Prime Minister Tony Blair today praised the dedication and skill of the North East's motoring workforce as he launched the new generation Nissan Micra.

Mr Blair was at the Nissan plant near Sunderland in Washington, Tyne and Wear, to launch the new saloon car aimed at the European market.

Scores of workers joined dozens of journalists from across Europe to see the Prime Minister perform the official ceremony.

Mr Blair said: ''This event is the result of hard work by the great management and excellent workforce at Nissan's Sunderland plant, the most productive in the EU, and is a testament to the people of the North East and the UK car industry.''

Mr Blair then got behind the wheel of the four-door cornflower blue vehicle which bore the number plate MICRA 1.

In the passenger seat was Carlos Ghosn, the president of Nissan motor company.

Nissan is targeting average lifetime sales of over 160,000 Micras per year across Europe.

As part of the preparations to produce the new car at Sunderland, a third shift has been agreed with the workforce, which currently stands at around 4,900.

Nissan's operations in Sunderland began in 1984, with the first vehicle, the Nissan Bluebird, coming off the production line in 1986.

Since then the car plant has grown to become the UK's largest and has produced more than three million vehicles to date.

This year it was recognised for the sixth consecutive year as the most productive car plant in Europe.