STAFF at the Port of Felixstowe are celebrating a record-breaking year, after a significant increase in the number of containers handled each week.An impressive 6,519 units were loaded and discharged at the Port in the week beginning November 17 - a significant increase on the previous record of 6,347 units, set in December 2002.

STAFF at the Port of Felixstowe are celebrating a record-breaking year, after a significant increase in the number of containers handled each week.

An impressive 6,519 units were loaded and discharged at the Port in the week beginning November 17 - a significant increase on the previous record of 6,347 units, set in December 2002.

This new record was broken again in the week beginning December 18 with 6,676 units passing through the port.

Richard Pearson, managing director of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, said: "We are delighted with the record-breaking rail volumes we have seen through the Port in the past few weeks.

"These figures provide clear evidence of the growing demand for rail, and the port remains as committed as ever to increasing the share of freight transported on the rail at Felixstowe. I would personally like to thank all our customers, and in particular our dedicated staff in the Rail Division, for helping us to work towards achieving this objective."

The news of this record throughput comes at the same time as the port are introducing a number of enhancements to their rail services.

A number of new services to Hams Hall have been introduced to cater for the Midlands manufacturing industry.

There are now a total of 22 inbound and 21 outbound trains per day from the port's North and South rail terminals.

These trains link the port to Coatbridge (Glasgow), Trafford Park (Manchester), Liverpool, Leeds, Cleveland, Birmingham, Cardiff, Tilbury, Doncaster, Selby, Widnes, Wakefield, Hams Hall, and Daventry.