London Gateway is new competition for Felixstowe port

Britain's biggest container port, Felixstowe in Suffolk, faces competition from the vast new London Gateway super-port which has finally come into operation.

When complete the £1.5bn port, on the north bank of the Thames at Thurrock in Essex, will eventually be able to unload six container ships at the same time and allow direct access to the south east.

The Port of Felixstowe said it was confident it could compete with its new rival.