Car giant BMW has launched a recruitment campaign to find hundreds of workers for its new Rolls-Royce plant in Sussex.

The workers will put the finishing touches to one of the best known cars in the world when the first models come off the assembly line in Sussex early next year.

The team behind Rolls-Royce is hiring staff for its leather and wood shops as its £30 million assembly plant and administrative offices begin to take shape.

BMW, which takes over ownership of Rolls-Royce from January, is also advertising for marketing staff who will fly the flag around the world for the car. One job title singles out the US.

The drive is the second to be launched by BMW's Project Rolls-Royce team, which is operating from temporary accommodation on a business park at Chichester while the factory is built.

The complex is expected to employ 350 people and BMW said it was on target to assemble its first car during the first few weeks of 2003 with the first model already sold to an anonymous collector.

The German car giant said one of the reasons for bringing its operation to the Chichester area was the high number of experienced workers skilled in wood and leather because of local links with boat building.

The company won planning permission to build the plant despite huge opposition from conservationists, who complained it would spoil a greenfield site.

But district councillors ruled the impact on the economy of a wide area of West Sussex and the prestige from the Rolls-Royce name outweighed the potential for harm.

The factory is being partially sunk into a former gravel pit and will be covered with a specially designed green roof to help it blend in with the surroundings and thousands of trees are being planted.

The assembly plant is almost opposite Goodwood Motor Racing circuit where the cars will be tested and shown to overseas buyers.

The company said more than 1,000 people applied when the first batch of jobs was advertised.

A spokesman said: "People will be joining one of the most famous automotive brands in the world.

"We aim to set new standards in technology and craftsmanship."