AN MP has called for improvements to the rail and road links from East Lancashire to West Yorkshire.

Hyndburn’s MP Graham Jones said he will be writing a letter to Transport Minister Chris Grayling to keep up the pressure.

In April, the newly set-up Transport for the North (TFN) agency said improving the Central Pennine Corridor would be a key priority.

Now Mr Jones is calling for an update on the latest proposals for the link.

Mr Jones wants to see a freight rail link through East Lancashire connecting to the Port of Liverpool at one end and Hull at the other.

He would also like to see a parallel motorway for industrial estates, manufacturing and shifting goods by road to rail, as well as a rail freight terminal in East Lancashire connecting to Hull and Liverpool and by road to all industrial sites around the M60/M62/M65 extension, M61, M58 and M6.

Among other demands include the electrification of a revived Preston to Skipton line, passenger services between Preston and Leeds via the reinstated Skipton line connecting to Leeds-Bradford Airport, and better connections south.

Mr Jones said the plans would make East Lancashire an attractive destination for manufacturing.

He added: “Connecting East Lancashire by Rail Freight to the port of Liverpool and to the port of Hull with a rail freight terminal in the region would make East Lancashire a very attractive destination for manufacturing.

“This must run in parallel to the advanced discussions on extending the M65 to Yorkshire.

“The Skipton to Colne rail link - if done right - can change the attractiveness of our area to major manufacturers."

Mr Jones would also like to see the M65 extended to Skipton, and is joined by former Blackburn MP Jack Straw, who said there is a good case for it.

Mr Straw said: “The M65 must be the only motorway in the country which effectively ends in a car park.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council transport boss Phil Riley, who is on the board of TfN, said that the Central Pennine Corridor was hugely important for East Lancashire.

He said: “TfN are about to publish a strategic business case which will give a sense of direction of some of the points raised by Mr Jones and others.

“It is important that all the East and West transport links don’t all concern Manchester to Sheffield and Manchester to Leeds.”