EURO MP Chris Davies has criticised the decision to stop pumping money into rail freight services.

He said the action of the Strategic Rail Authority will lead to more lorries on Bolton's roads.

The decision to cut an estimated £60 million from the freight support budget from April has also been condemned by the Confederation of British Industry and the Freight Transport association.

Bolton Euro-MP, Chris Davies, claims that it leaves in tatters the Government's pledge to deliver an 80 per cent increase in rail freight by 2010.

The Liberal Democrat described it as a shortsighted measure that would be bad news for Bolton drivers.

He added: "The bargain between road and rail has been broken, and there is now nothing left to prevent problems of road congestion from growing out of control."