Autumn Statement: huge investment in transport

Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced a new National Productivity Investment Fund of £23 billion to be spent on innovation and infrastructure over next five years.

Setting out his first Autumn Statement, Mr Hammond said the fund will "directly contribute" to raising Britain's productivity.

The new funding commitments include an additional £1.1bn of investment in English local transport networks.

Details of allocation are yet to emerge - so it is not yet clear how the West Country will actually benefit, and no guarantees that this extra funding will come our way.

However, a hint dropped by the Prime Minister to a South West MP could mean that the West Country is likely to receive more support for its rail infrastructure.

It was a timely announcement - the region is still suffering from a 48 hour disruption on the trains to and from the South West after a spate of bad weather caused flooding and debris on rail routes.