WORKERS' jobs at BMW could potentially be at risk after Britain decided to leave the European Union, a union leader has warned.

Before the referendum Chris Bond, Unite convenor at the Cowley plant, said it could make "better economic sense" for BMW to switch Mini production to Holland or Austria within a decade if Britain backed Brexit.

As BMW bosses confirmed yesterday there would be no immediate change to UK operations, Mr Bond described the mood of staff at the plant as "subdued."

The convenor, who represents about 4,500 workers asked to vote Remain, added: "Potentially Brexit could put workers' jobs at risk in Oxford - that is my opinion.

"It could be cheaper to produce the Mini in Holland - the cabriolet has been produced in Holland for the past two years.

"Economists who work in the industry have warned it could cost an extra £300 a car to export them to Europe.

"Moving somewhere like Holland is a very real possibility - it is not scaremongering - the automotive sector will be hit very badly by Brexit."

Mr Bond said convenors would meet bosses on Monday to discuss the way forward following the EU vote.

He added: "We just have to continue doing what we have been doing which is producing the iconic Mini - a top quality car."

The union leader said workers did as they were asked by voting Remain but were "let down" by those who voted to leave.

He added: "The future of the plant is guaranteed until 2025 but we have to think about what will happen after that.

"We will always strive to keep the Mini here and that won't stop until we can guarantee that future models will be produced here.

"The work starts now to try to safeguard the plant's future and we will be fighting all the way for workers' jobs."

BMW Mini spokesman Steven Wrelton said: "BMW Group respects the British electorate’s decision to leave the EU.

"While it is clear there will now be a period of uncertainty, there will be no immediate change to our operations in the UK.

"Today we know that many of the relevant conditions for supplying the European market will have to be re-negotiated, but of course we cannot say what this means for our UK operations until those future regulatory and legislative arrangements are agreed.

"We will not speculate about the outcome of these negotiations nor about any possible effects that might have on our production operations in the UK."

Frank Nigriello, of Oxford-based car parts firm Unipart, said it was "too early in the process" to comment.

But David Ilott, of wastewater treatment firm IHS Systems in Kidlington, said he was pleased with the result.

After claiming the EU was pouring cash down the drain, he added: "There will be a period of adjustment but ultimately I think it will be better for staff."

Mark Beard, of Cumnor Hill-based Beard Construction, which has 200 employees, said: "I hope we will continue to work closely with our European neighbours - there could be some effect on confidence in the short term."

Keith Slater, a director of Oxfordshire Town Chambers Network, said: "No one could have predicted the pound would drop so dramatically - it could take a year for the pound to stabilise."