THE North West is missing out on investment in favour of the south, according to an MP.

Hyndburn and Haslingden MP Graham Jones has voiced “worrying” concerns that an opportunity to spend more on the region’s infrastructure is being missed.

Mr Jones said: “Infrastructure is vital to economic growth and prosperity. It is a great disappointment to me therefore that this government has not seen the potential of the region to play a great role in the UK’s economic recovery.

“The North West was at the forefront of the industrial revolution and the infrastructural developments which came with the steam train. The expansion of rail allowed the region to become a manufacturing superpower.

“I want to see that replicated in the modern age – and it will only happen if the infrastructural groundwork is laid.

“The rail suffers with congestion, unelectrified lines and too few services.

“The poor services the north west’s infrastructure provides add time costs, inefficiencies and make the region a less effective area to do business.

“According to a report by IPPR North, the infrastructure spend in the north west is £178 per head in the current period against £2,731 in the south east.

“The disparity in spending is incredibly worrying.”