THE PROSPECT of an extra £200million-worth of investment in the North West emerges today as the government gives the go-ahead for the creation of its own regional development agency.

For this newspaper this is the fulfilment of its long-stated demand for just such an agency.

And on top of the extra investment it promises - creating the potential of thousands of new jobs in the process - it means that at last the North West will be able to compete on level terms with the country's regions which have been supported and strengthened for years.

We have always been all for it.

And now that it is to happen, we look forward to the dividends for the North West's future prosperity.

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