Tory Minister, Michael Gove, has said that creating a new crossing over the Thames will help ease congestion and reduce air quality problems.

Mr Gove, who replaced Andrea Leadsom as the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in June of this year, visited Grays today to witness the street cleaners in action as part of the "Clean it, Cut it, Fill it" scheme.

During his visit, Mr Gove showed his support for the Lower Thames Crossing.

Speaking to the Thurrock Gazette, he said: “It should be the case that provided we have the right investment and the crossing is managed in the right way that we should be able to stop some of the congestion and some of the idling motors that have helped drive up air quality problems in the past.

"If you have people backed up with engines running without citizens able to get to their place of work or home, then you’re generating excess pollution and you’re also taking away from economic growth.

"So, the right sort of transport infrastructure both helps boost the economy and it also helps to ensure that environmental issues like air quality are addressed."

The Lower Thames Crossing has proven to be one of the most controversial topics in Thurrock.

The Thames Crossing Action Group has argued that the proposed route, which goes via Orsett and meets the Thames Estuary at East Tilbury, will provide increased levels of air pollution in a borough which already has serious air quality problems.

Mr Gove enjoyed his visit to borough saying that "he always loves coming to Grays" praising Jackie Doyle-Price, who he calls an "energetic MP."

The Tory Minister added: "I have seen in the course of this afternoon that the Conservative councillors here work 24/7 to get the very best deal for the community and they work together with an outstanding MP.”

The "Clean it, Cut it, Fill it" scheme is a council-run project which aims to improve street cleanliness, cut the borough's grass and fill the potholes.

Mr Gove particulary came to see the cleaning element of the scheme.

Antonio Rodrigues, Charge Hand for Grays Street Cleansing Environment, met Mr Gove.

He said: "He seems like a nice person. He told us that we had done a good job in cleaning up the streets."