A NORTH-EAST car maker has frozen orders in one of its top European markets.

Nissan, which employs nearly 7,000 workers at its Sunderland plant, says it has been forced to take action in Russia, as the country’s economy continues its dramatic fall.

Russia’s currency has tumbled and the country is close to recession as it battles falling oil prices and sanctions over its role in the Ukraine crisis, putting pressure on vehicle manufacturers.

Nissan told The Northern Echo its Sunderland factory has previously sent its popular Qashqai and Juke models to the country.

The firm sold 15,275 vehicles in Russia in November, making the country its top European area for sales, ahead of the UK, which had 11,059 sales.

Carlos Ghosn, chief executive, said it has stopped taking orders until it gets a better picture of Russia’s financial standing.

He said: “We have suspended taking orders.

“We didn’t suspend orders overall, just on some models.

“We said, ‘sorry, but until we see where this situation is going, we don't take orders’.”

Mr Ghosn added the freeze is limited to specific models, with orders already placed due to be honoured.

The Northern Echo understands the halt is not expected to have any serious implications on Nissan's work at its Sunderland plant.

Last month, the firm revealed it had made its two millionth Qashqai in the North-East.

It added of the two million Qashqais made in Sunderland since December 2006, 85 per cent (1,706,633) have been exported to 132 international markets.

The company is now eyeing its next phase of growth when production of the sporty Infiniti model becomes the first Sunderland-built model exported to the US.

A team from the North-East has travelled to Japan to refine prototypes of the luxurious Infiniti Q30 hatchback, with production trials due to start in February ahead of car making in August.

The Sunderland plant is being extended and 280 staff recruited to make it capable of producing up to 60,000 Infiniti vehicles a year.