LOGISTICS North could have been an option for online retailer Shop Direct, a local MP has said.

MP Barbara Keeley has described as "devastating" the decision by online retailer to shut down its Little Hulton operations.

Ms Keeley said she and the council were kept in the dark to pull out of the region putting 2,000 jobs at risk and relocate to the East Midlands.

Bosses say they are having to relocate because of Greater Manchester's "outdated road network".

Shop Direct’s Little Hulton site, which has around 100 workers, is just minutes away from Logistics North in Bolton where a number of big firms are relocating to.

Mrs Keeley said: “This news is devastating for the staff working at Shop Direct and their families. The move will affect over 100 people working for Shop Direct in Little Hulton and over 1700 across Greater Manchester.”

“It is very disappointing that neither I nor Salford City Council heard about these plans from Shop Direct until yesterday morning, when it is obvious that they have been working on the plans for their move for some time. We could have worked with the company to suggest other local sites with good transport links, such as Logistics North.”

“I am working with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, the Salford City Mayor and MPs from Oldham to work out how to support staff affected by the redundancies that will be caused by the move. We are meeting on Friday with representatives of Shop Direct, the Department of Work and Pensions and the Manchester Growth Company.”

“I am writing to the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers to make sure that they take action to support my constituents during the difficult time ahead. ”