EUROPE'S largest freight park, on track to create up to 5,000 new jobs, has been launched in London.

3MG Mersey Multimodal Gateway, in Ditton, was unveiled at the rail freight group annual conference.

"This is a very exciting day as we are launching a project which will attract a huge amount of investment into the borough and create many jobs for local people," said Cllr Rob Polhill, board member for transportation.

"This is a truly partnership project."

Halton MP and junior transport minister Derek Twigg gave a ministerial address at the event.

The intermodal terminal already handles more than 60,000 containers a year with six daily trains from the deep sea ports.

The freight village has planning permission and is designed for multiple use by freight, warehousing, retail plus import and export businesses.

bjordan@worldgroup.co.uk