CAR manufacturing slowed considerably last month but is still ahead for the year so far compared with 2013.

A total of 71,065 cars were made in the UK in August 2014 - a 22.1 per cent fall on the total for August last year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

It said the big down turn in August came at a time when some manufacturers had had additional holiday shutdowns.

This summer, Nissan's Sunderland plant experienced a longer-than-planned shutdown after problems in the press department forced a temporary halt of car production.

Nissan's North-East workers make about one third of all the cars manufactured in the UK.

However, despite the sharp dip last month, total UK production for the first eight months of this year, at almost 995,000 vehicles is one per cent up on the January-August 2013 total.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "The month of August is typically the quietest of the year. Volumes are still strong for the year-to-date, however, with the UK automotive sector in the midst of a renaissance.

"Global demand for quality UK-built products is at an unprecedented level, with significant investments into UK production facilities from government and industry currently being realised."