The London Gateway transport hub will create thousands of transport jobs upon its completion, prime minister Gordon Brown has said.

Visiting the site for the project north bank of the Thames in Essex yesterday (January 5th), Mr Brown said that the development is possible because of significant foreign investment.

A boost to rail jobs appears to be part of the package as the hub is designed to link road, rail and sea and improve the UK’s goods transportation network.

Mr Brown said: "[The London Gateway] will help bring the largest deep sea vessels here and improve the efficiency of the UK’s freight distribution, creating thousands of jobs, future growth and economic prosperity."

Business secretary Lord Peter Mandelson, who accompanied Mr Brown on his visit added that the completion of the project will see the creation of 36,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The aim of the London Gateway is to provide a cheaper and more environmentally friendly way to transport goods to their destination, according to its developer DP World.