PLANS for £12m new vehicle handling facilities in Southampton's docks have been unveiled.

The announcement comes as Chancellor George Osborne visits the city today to look at the investment being ploughed into the port.

Associated British Ports is set to start work on the five-storey facility in the Eastern Docks in May, which will be able to handle 3,200 vehicles when it is completed next March.

Port chiefs are spending £3m on an open-air car handling facility‎ and have announced plans to take on another nine apprentices.

Mr Osborne visited the port ahead of the General Election, saying: "A key part of our long term economic plan is ensuring we have the right skills and the right infrastructure to help great British businesses export their products and create manufacturing jobs here in the UK.

"Today ABP is not just investing in young people by expanding their apprenticeship programme.

"They are also building a port that will support jobs in the car industry across the country, so that wherever you are in the world, ‎you cannot fail to see cars made in Britain."

Daily Echo: