THE minister for the Thames Gateway made his first visit to the London Gateway super port development yesterday, to officially name its new nature reserve.

Bob Neill MP was joined at Stanford Wharf Nature Reserve by children from Abbots Hall School, who had come down to the site, off Wharf Road in Stanford-le-Hope, to learn why maritime operator DP World’s ecologists are busy catching lizards and slow worms.

Mr Neill called the new nature reserve, which cannot be created until all existing wildlife on the site has been relocated, an “important” facility.

Speaking about the super port development, he said: “This is good news for Thurrock and the surrounding area, and the Government is strongly committed to supporting this initiative. This is my first visit here and I’m very impressed.”