Department for Transport blames English geography blunders on data source issue

The Department for Transport has defended the geographical knowledge of its staff after several blunders appeared in an official announcement.



The mistakes included saying Manchester was in the North East of England, Leicestershire in the South East and Plymouth was in the North West. The government department blamed a "data source issue".



However, the document was emailed to journalists before anyone spotted the mistakes. The blunders were in a press release announcing millions of pounds of investment in green transport projects across the English regions.



A member of staff at the department suggested the errors were down to a mix-up in "sorting and formulating options". The department insisted that its staff were aware of the locations of places in England.