The act of festive cheer will see all staff at JCB’s 11 plants across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham receive an extra £1,000 in their pay packets.

The last time a Christmas bonus of that magnitude was awarded was in 2007.

The record-equalling Christmas bonus comes in a year in which JCB machine production reached a 73-year high and an extra 1,500 people were recruited.

JCB chairman Lord Bamford said: “JCB has had a very successful year and I am delighted that we are able to award a substantial Christmas bonus to thank our employees for their contribution.

“What’s more, the signs remain extremely encouraging for 2019, with many reasons to remain positive for the future, both for our business, and the UK, which, after all, is the world’s fifth largest economy.”