NORTH-EAST car workers have received a pat on the back from consumer watchdogs.

The Primera, which is made at Nissan's plant in Sunderland, was voted best buy family car in the annual Which? car survey.

Cars in the annual Consumers' Association survey were scored in four categories - reliability, owner satisfaction, safety and security.

Questionnaires were compiled by more than 30,000 car owners.

The Primera scored particularly well for reliable running, with less than five per cent of customers reporting a breakdown in the last year.

They also praised the car's ease of driving, pleasant ownership and ride quality.

The low cost of replacement parts and servicing were also singled out.

The outstanding results will help bolster the North-East's case for the next generation Micra contract.

Workers are set to make the switch to 24-hour working in a bid to secure the massive investment after factory bosses warned the strength of the pound could see the work go overseas