A new �40m transport hub will replace three distribution centres in central England, Royal Mail has announced.

The centres at Wednesbury, near Birmingham, Nottingham and Northampton employing 600 people, will close to make way for the new development at Daventry, Northamptonshire.

The 30-acre site will form the hub of Royal Mail's transportation network and is expected to be operational by next August.

A spokesman for the company said nearly 600 people would be employed at the new centre.

24-hour operation

"The employees who work at the three sites will be given the opportunity to express their preferences for the future, including transferring to a new site, redeployment within other parts of our business or voluntary redundancy," he said.

The new centre, which will be based on the Drift Logistics Park, will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The decision to close the three existing centres follows Royal Mail's announcement in March it would be rationalising its distribution network.

It says the changes will save �90m over three years and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 35%.