LIVE: Andy Burnham issues update on new Manchester to Liverpool railway line - updates

Andy Burnham is holding a press conference to issue an update on plans for a new railway line between Manchester and Liverpool.

The Greater Manchester mayor is in London with his Liverpool City Region counterpart Steve Rotheram to make their pitch to the government.

The pair were set to meet with ministers and their officials this morning (May 14) to discuss the major transport project.

It comes as the Manchester Evening News joins forces with the Liverpool ECHO to back the new railway line between ours two cities.

The proposal set out by the mayors would see express trains run between Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street every 10 minutes with services calling at Warrington as well as Manchester and Liverpool's airports with journey times slashed to 32 minutes.

The plans also include building an underground station at Piccadilly and a new transport interchange at Manchester Airport.

According to a new report, this railway line is the 'missing link' that could unlock £90bn of economic growth for the region.

Mr Burnham and Mr Rotheram are now lobbying the government to include the project in its 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy.

The mayors will be joined by former Tory rail minister Huw Merriman, who now chairs the Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board.

The press conference is set to take place in Westminster at around midday.

Follow below for the latest updates.

Andy Burnham is lobbying the government to back his plans. Earlier, he set out exactly what he is calling for at this stage.

He said: "We recognise this is a difficult spending round for the country and we also recognise that there is also significant resource going into the building of HS2.

"But what we would ask the government to consider is not to