UK govt says Nissan to invest 200 mln stg

LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) - The British government said on Monday that Nissan Motor Co will invest more than 200 million pounds into the UK over the next five years in a new rechargeable lithium-ion battery plant.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the investment, in Sunderland, north east England, would create 350 new jobs and safeguard hundreds more in the supply chain.

"Nissan's investment in a new battery plant and its hope to start producing electric vehicles here in Sunderland is great news for the local economy," he said in a statement. (Reporting by Kate Kelland)