More than 60 jobs are to go on P&O Ferries' Dover-Calais service.

Staff were told on Thursday the company plans to reduce the level of operational deck and technical manning on its short-sea routes, as well as in the on-board services.

"The cost-saving proposals havce been drawn up as a response to increased competition and increasingly difficult market circumstances," said chief executive officer Helen Deeble.

The company has told the European Works Council of its plans which involve nearly 80 jobs altogether.

"We will shortly commence consultation about these proposals with local trade unions and works councils."

A total of 31 on board services management jobs will go, together with 48.5 jobs in the short sea deck and technical departments.

All the desk and technical department redundancies will be among those based at Dover, with 17 on-board services staff affected.

"Compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out but it is hoped that these reductions can be achieved by a mix of voluntary redundancy and, where the company deems it appropriate, normal staff leaver rates.

"The recruitment freeze announced earlier this year has resulted in a number of deck and technical department vacancies which would help to reduce the potential need for redundancies."