A CAMPAIGN to provide a continuous motorway link between the North-East and London to revive the region's economic fortunes is being stepped up a gear.

The North-East Chamber of Commerce is calling for public support for the Blue Line campaign to improve transport links between the region and the rest of the country.

Yesterday, the chamber launched a blue ribbon campaign, calling on motorists to give their backing by pinning blue ribbon stickers to their car windscreens and bumpers.

The move follows last month's successful trip by chamber members to London to lobby support among MPs for a three-lane motorway from Bramham, in North Yorkshire, to Newcastle.

Leaders of the country's largest chamber of commerce visited Ferguson's Transport in Sunderland yesterday to unveil the initiative, which it is hoped will raise its profile at national level.

Chamber of commerce president John Irwin said: "To ensure the North-East does not remain on the periphery of markets in the South-East and central Europe, is it crucial we have a fully-integrated transport network.

"Without this happening it will be very difficult to close the prosperity gap with other areas of the country.

"The sticker campaign is one way to raise the profile of the transport debate. If we can encourage haulage firms and motorists in the region to back our demands, we can hopefully raise the issue to national prominence."

Mr Irwin said that as well as calls for a blue line, the chamber was demanding urgent action to upgrade the A66 and A69.

He said: "We are also calling for greater investment in other areas of the region's transport infrastructure through the upgrading of the East Coast rail line and the maintenance of air links to the South-East and Europe."

Ferguson Transport executive chairman Alan Ferguson, who is backing the campaign, said: "One of the biggest problems facing the regional economy is the lack of a blue line running into the area.

"Customers and potential investors, particularly those from other countries, are unfortunately put off when they look at a map and don't see one.

"They automatically assume the North-East is an economic backwater and this needs to change."

Car and bumper stickers have been issued to the chamber's 5,000 members and it hopes other motorists will soon follow the example.

Anyone who would like to obtain a sticker can call 0191-386 1133