£60m ports plan aims to create 70,000 jobs

The government has announced moves aimed at creating up to 70,000 jobs through a £60 million improvement to ports to boost offshore wind projects.

The Prime Minister said the potential for Britain to lead the world in the offshore wind industry was "immense", especially as thousands of turbines would be needed in the next decade.

"Manufacturing these needs large factories which have to be on the coast, yet neither the factories nor the large port sites exist and that, understandably, is putting off private investors," David Cameron told the CBI annual conference in London.

"To help secure private sector investment we're providing up to 60 million to meet the needs of offshore wind infrastructure at our ports."

Mr Cameron said 70,000 jobs could be created, adding that the Crown Estate was working with ports and manufacturers to support the development of offshore wind manufacturing capacity.

Meanwhile three companies - GE, Siemens and Gamesa announced plans to invest in offshore wind manufacturing.