WHILE the North-East waits to hear about support for its plans to invest £30m to create 7,000 jobs, the Southern-based British Ports yesterday pledged to invest £400m in its UK ports over the next ten years.

The London-based operator, which runs Grimsby and Southampton ports among others, said it was waiting for a decision on a riverside container terminal at Hull after the General Election.

Its plans for a further deep sea container terminal at Southampton were turned down by the Government on environmental grounds.

AB Ports said it was also planning to sell £250m of property and land at many of its UK ports.