Anti-No Deal Brexit protesters stage demo outside Nissan as they warn of the 'horrors' of crashing out without agreement

The group of residents, who are against a situation where the UK does not have a trade agreement with Europe, have held a number of events outside the gates of the Wearside factory and other North East locations, including the Angel of the North.

Their latest was staged last night outside the car plant, where they said they were given honks of support by people driving by as they warned: “We don't have long to secure a deal to save the region” adding a No Deal scenario will “immensely damage the region's economy”.

Spokesperson Daniel Elsom added: "With post-Brexit trade talks going on all this weekend, we urged Boris Johnson to honour his promise to level up the North East by securing a good deal.

"The North East stands to be the worst affected by a No Deal Brexit, especially with Nissan themselves saying they would pull out of the region in this scenario.

"The protest will, therefore, had a Halloween theme to highlight the horror show that will be unleashed on the area if we do crash out without a deal."

It came as talks between Britain and the EU on a post-Brexit trade deal are continuing in London.

The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier is expected to remain in the UK until Wednesday to carry on intensive discussions with his British counterpart Lord Frost, with time running short if there is to be an agreement before the Brexit transition period comes to a close at the end of the year.

The UK and the EU had previously said they would need to get a deal by mid-October if it was to be implemented in time.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that if there is no agreement, Britain will start trading with the bloc on “Australian terms” – shorthand for World Trade Organisation rules.

However the prospect of the imposition of tariffs and quotas has alarmed many businesses already reeling from the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The main obstacles to a deal remain fishing rights, so-called “level playing field” rules to ensure fair competition and governance arrangements for any agreement.

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