Local Conservative MPs and union officials described the decision to rule out Hitachi, a local bidder, as “terrible and appalling”

Days before Britain leaves the European Union, the Department for Transport has spent £337 million of taxpayers’ money for new trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro to be built overseas.

Rather than have the rolling stock made near by at Newton Aycliffe, the British home of Hitachi Rail, it will be built 900 miles away by Stadler, the Swiss trainmaker.

The decision left the Unite union and local politicians fuming. Ben Houchen, Conservative mayor of Tees Valley, called it a “terrible and appalling decision” that “fails to protect a major North East business and local jobs”.

Pat McCourt, a local Unite officer, said: “This is the first test of the government to shape up and protect UK manufacturing. Unless the government takes immediate