WORKERS at the Cowley Mini plant are celebrating after the one millionth car rolled off the production line.

The pepper white-coloured Mini Cooper S sported a specially-developed almond green-coloured paint for the roof, along with a special "million" graphic which extends on to the bonnet.

But there was no proud new owner waiting to pick up the unique car - instead it will go to parent company BMW's Mobile Tradition division where all the company's significant vehicles are kept.

Plant spokesman Alexandra Brooks said: "The millionth Mini is a milestone for everyone at the plant.

"We have reached this achievement through the commitment and flexibility of the 4,700 associates working at the plant."

The plant has come a long way since 2001, consistently increasing production efficiency whilst maintaining a high flexibility to respond to the needs of the markets and our customers.

The million figure has been reached as new car sales to be announced tomorrow are expected to show record monthly figures for the Mini.

The BMW-produced Mini first went on sale in July 2001, with about 2,400 people building up to 300 cars a day at Oxford.

Now, more than 4,700 staff produce as many as 700 Minis a day, with annual production having risen from 100,000 in the early part of the decade to more than 200,000 now.

BMW has invested £380m in its Oxford plant since 2000.

The company is expected to have sold 7,854 Minis in the UK in March 2007, beating the previous record of 7,687 in March 2006.

The new record shows the recently launched second generation Mini Cooper and Cooper S have proved a success with customers.

And the sales momentum will be boosted further by the arrival of the Mini One and Mini Cooper D which go on sale on April 14.