Since I was first elected, I have consistently campaigned to improve transport in our area. That is why I am so disappointed by the Government’s decision to reject North East MPs’ bid to the Restoring our Railways Fund on the Leamside Line.

Re-opening the line with a station at Fencehouses would finally have brought modern rail to our community.

There is wide support and a strong economic case behind it and it’s extremely disappointing that ministers haven’t recognised this.

I won’t stop fighting until we have the public transport network we deserve. Our community has so much potential, yet we continue to be overlooked.