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Haulage company bosses have called on the Government to pump more money into road improvement projects in an attempt to stimulate the economy.

Alan Ferguson, managing director of Ferguson's Transport, based in Washington, Tyne and Wear, says he wants the Government to commit to a dualling programme for the A1 between Morpeth and Berwick-upon-Tweed to create jobs and boost the local economy.

It follows the decision by carmaker Nissan to shed 1,200 jobs at its Wearside factory.

He adds: "Our argument is that this type of investment is exactly what is needed now, particularly after the Nissan news, as everyone needs to get behind a way forward.

"We now need the government to start investing in the future and things like roads and power stations are just the right kind of investment publicly announcing the investments now can give hope for the future," Ferguson says.

"This route benefits the whole of the UK and is now needed to lift the spirits both of the North-East region after Nissan and Scotland in the wake of the Scottish banking sector problems."

Steve Prince, owner of Steve Prince Transport in Braintree, Essex, has also called for immediate Government investment to dual the stretch of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey, Essex.

The route is a key one for trucks heading to and from the  port of Harwich.

He adds: "The stretch of the A120 between Braintree and Mark Tey can be terribly slow for trucks as there is only one lane."

In November 2008, as part of the Government's Pre-Budget Report, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon revealed that planned road upgrades to the A46, A180/A160, and A12 would be brought forward in a bid to stimulate the economy.