Cities in Belgium, Holland and Germany have been hailed as the best logistics hubs in Europe.

A new report conducted by real estate specialist Colliers International has discovered that Antwerp, Rotterdam and Dusseldorf are all excellent strategic outposts for companies looking to deliver goods throughout the continent.

These three destinations all form part of the "Blue Banana", which is an important trade corridor.

The study - entitled Logistics Cities, a European Comparison - also outlined the huge potential of Istanbul, Kiev and Bratislava as manufacturing hotspots.

Erik Barnekow, director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa industrial and logistics at Colliers International, said the Blue Banana is very well connected.

"For instance, a population of 143 million can be reached by lorry within nine hours from Antwerp. This increases to 190 million people for Frankfurt," he remarked.

Recent figures published by the Department for Transport showed that an increasing number of British hauliers have been travelling to mainland Europe. Indeed, freight traffic statistics have now improved for three consecutive quarters.