Port of Felixstowe and London Gateway battle for business

The Port of Felixstowe has said it has managed to hold on to its customers since the launch of London Gateway.

The £1.5bn facility at Thurrock, Essex, is 20 miles (32km) down the River Thames from London and opened in November.

None of the Port of Felixstowe's main customers are yet to leave Felixstowe for London Gateway, but engineering director Andrew Bowen is not overly concerned.

"We're growing as planned," he said.

"We started in November with one service, we're now up to six services. The shipping lines are very keen and interested in the product we deliver here at London Gateway."

Neil Davidson, from Drewry Shipping Consultants, said it was "still early days" in the ports' rivalry.

BBC Look East's business correspondent Richard Bond reports.