For 35 years, Honda manufactured millions of cars with a workforce of more than 3,000 people at its South Marston site.

The manufacturing plant built on a 370-acre airfield in 1985 closed down in July 2021 and is currently being demolished to make way for a new development by Panattoni which is expected to bring many more thousands of jobs to the town.

Images from the Adver's archives show aerial views of the impressive structure, as well as peeks around the vast production line that saw staff carefully construct and test new vehicles with top-of-the-line machinery and equipment before sending them off to dealerships.

When the expansion of the site opened in the early noughties, Honda's president attended to have a look around the new area while Formula 1 drivers ran laps around the test track and signed autographs.

The factory played a key role in the town's history and in the lives of many Swindonians, so the announcement of its closure was a sad day indeed, particularly after attempts to change the car giant's mind were unsuccessful.

This week marked the true end of an era for Swindon, and the start of whatever comes next.