Digger firm JCB has offered staff a double dose of Christmas cheer with a festive bonus on top of a pay rise.
The Rocester-based company will give 6,700 employees at JCB's 11 plants across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham receive an extra £500 in their pay packets this Christmas, Derbyshire Live reports .
There's also a 2.2% pay rise for shop floor employees - linked to November's Retail Price Index (RPI) - set to take effect from January 1, 2020.
JCB chairman Lord Bamford said: "This year started quite strongly for JCB but the second half of 2019 has been more challenging.
"Nevertheless, it has been a solid performance in 2019 after last year's record year and I am delighted that we are able to award a Christmas bonus to thank employees for their contribution to our continuing success."
JCB chief executive Graeme Macdonald said: "The global outlook for 2020 is difficult to predict, as there are still many economic challenges in our market around the world.
"However, we remain positive as there are many opportunities for JCB to grow its business in 2020 which will be a very special year for the company as we gear up to celebrate our 75thanniversary."
Backhoe loader team leader Jon Ward, 29, of Stafford, has worked for JCB for nearly three years.
He said: "Not many companies gives their employees a Christmas bonus so this is brilliant news."
Backhoe loader team leader Craig Scott, 37, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, said: "Everyone is very grateful for the bonus and really happy to get it."
This year JCB went into full production with its first electric products - a 1.9 tonne mini excavator and a Teletruk telescopic forklift.
Production has also started at the new £50 million JCB Cab Systems factory in Uttoxeter, while the company also secured the title for the world's fastest tractor with a speed of 135mph in a modified version of its famous Fastrac digger machine.
Last year JCB workers got their biggest Christmas bonus for more than a decade with an extra £1,000 appearing in their pay packets.
Around 7,200 employees at the firm's 11 plants across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham benefited as the JCB machine production reached a 73-year high, leading to the recruitment of an extra 1,500 people.
