Newton Aycliffe Hitachi train work 'will start in August'

The plant will be at Amazon Park on the outskirts of Newton Aycliffe

Building work on an £82m manufacturing plant where hundreds of trains will be built is expected to start in August.

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman said the Hitachi factory, in County Durham, would begin recruiting staff in about two years.

More than 700 people will be employed at the Newton Aycliffe facility once it is operational.

The first trains will roll off the production line in 2017, Ms Goodman said.

Hitachi won a contract with the Department for Transport to replace the ageing fleet of diesel-powered Intercity trains.