Rolls-Royce has denied it is planning to move its assembly line abroad despite an increase in German workers at its Sussex plant.

The luxury car maker, which is owned by BMW, has brought over more German staff to its Chichester plant, including several managers who have been "shadowing" the workers.

This has led to rumours that the firm was considering transferring assembly to its Bavarian heartland, with the shadow managers taking senior roles.

BMW has set a target for the plant to produce 1,000 cars a year but lowered it to just 480 this year after teething problems delayed commercial production until May.

Rolls spokesman Fred Furth confirmed BMW had introduced German workers to the plant but said this was not a prelude to the company moving assembly to Germany.

He said: "What sense would it make for us to move away from something we have just set up?"

Mr Furth said the expat workers had been brought to the plant as part of BMW's "sister programme" under which the firm moves experienced employees to various parts of its empire.

He did not comment on the recent increase in numbers but said the plant had had an average of 50 German workers since May.

Mr Furth said the Rolls brand had not suffered a slide in popularity since BMW took over and said the plant had been unable to keep up with demand.

"This is the first year of the plant's life. We bought the Rolls name but had to build a brand new factory, design a whole new car and employ a whole new team," he said. We have to expect early problems."

He said Rolls was now producing cars at an average of three to four a day, and expected to be able to meet the 1,000-car target next year.