POOR roads and railways in the south east are crippling business and more money must be spent on them, says a new regional arm of the Freight Transport Association, the South East England Freight Council.

The council's chairman, Christian Scott, who is business development director of the High Wycombe company McKenzie Myers, said: "Extensive investment is the only answer."

Mr Scott was speaking at the first meeting of the council, where members said if goods and services were to be moved around the region urgent action and money was needed.

Mr Scott said transport played a critical role in the economy of the south east, while at the same time the south east was hugely important to the prosperity of the whole country.

He said : "The South East England Freight Council will provide an opportunity for key players to identify industry's transport needs within the region. The council's role will be to ensure those needs are understood and to urge relevant authorities to take action."

The National Freight Council set up the south east council to mirror the other newish regional bodies, such as the South East England Development Agency, the South East England Regional Assembly and the Government Office for the South East.