A representative of oil and gas haulage specialist Grampian Continental believes the opening of the landmark London Gateway facility will be a good thing for the UK.

Writing for Sky Tyne and Wear, Gavin Murray suggested that transport managers will see the £1.5 billion port as an opportunity to move goods along their supply chains more quickly.

Operated by DP World, London Gateway will be the UK's first major deep-sea container port and is set to add an extra 3.5 million cargo units to the country's overall capacity.

While Mr Murray was not sure how the impressive new complex - which is due to open later this year - will impact ports in the north-east of England, he said it gives companies in the south-east another option other than Felixstowe, Southampton, Tilbury and Harwich.

"Certainly in terms of our industry, I believe it will become a key transport hotspot and a more direct route to the European market," he wrote.