THE Mini plant production line will grind to a halt tonight as workers are given the evening off to watch the big game.

For the first time in the tournament the car plant’s owners BMW have decided to shut early at 6.30pm to give staff the chance to watch England attempt to make history.

An average evening shift at the plant usually sees almost 1,000 members of staff work until 9.30pm, with 1,000 cars made every day, but workers are being given the chance to leave three hours early.

For those unable to get home, televisions in the plant’s rest areas will be showing the match.

Some 4,500 people are employed by the plant.

Keal Makin, 26, from Cowley is one of the workers given the evening off.

He said: “It’s great to be able to get out early and watch the game – I’m predicting it’ll be 2-1 to England.

"I’ll be going to the Longwall pub with a few people from work.

"We’ll have a few pints and hope for the best, but I think it is coming home.”

The factory will still run a night shift, which begins after the match has finished.