JCB has announced an investment of more than £50 million in a new plant, creating hundreds of jobs and doubling production of cabs used on its machines.

Work is under way on a facility adjacent to the A50 in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, next to two existing JCB plants.

The hi-tech factory will have the capacity to produce around 100,000 cabs a year.

It will include a computer-controlled production line, a fully-automated painting facility and robotic welding, and will create more than 200 new jobs by 2022.

Chief executive Graeme Macdonald said: “This new factory will be the most advanced and productive cab facility in the world and will bring even greater levels of efficiency to the business.

“The investment is one of the biggest in the company’s history and underlines our commitment to manufacturing in Britain and in our home county of Staffordshire.”