THE new president of the UK's largest chamber of commerce has pledged his commitment to improving transport in the region.

Freight company owner Alan Ferguson was elected unopposed to the presidency of the North East Chamber of Commerce at Durham's Ramside Hall Hotel, yesterday.

The executive chairman of the Ferguson Group set out his agenda for the next two years, saying that investment in transport infrastructure was the key to economic success.

He pledged to continue backing the chamber's Blue Line campaign, launched last year, for a motorway link from the region to London.

Last June, the campaign was boosted by Transport Minister John Spellar's announcement that the Government would invest £263m in upgrading three sections of the A1 in West and North Yorkshire to motorway status.

Mr Ferguson said: "We have seen some success. But the timescales for the upgrade are far too long.

"For this region, which is geographically on the edge of the UK, to compete on a level playing field, it needs much better road links to the north and south.

"Similarly, our airports and rail services need to be improved, and I think the chamber is in a strong position to make this point to government and work with One NorthEast, local councils and the regional assembly, if and when it arrives, to make this happen."

Mr Ferguson said the region's communications network also needed to be improved, for example by broadband being extended to rural areas recovering from the foot-and-mouth crisis.

He highlighted the importance of international links, such as the chamber's membership of the international chamber movement.

He said: "Exports and linkages with companies abroad are vital for many North-East companies. I want to ensure the chamber gives maximum support to this."

Mr Ferguson stressed his desire to improve the chamber's relationships with One NorthEast, Business Link, universities, local authorities and other business-related organisations.

He said: "For us to succeed as a region, we need to pull together, and I am determined to ensure that the chamber makes a significant contribution to this."