A ferry company is to start a new service between Dover and Dieppe in February.

It will be the first time the two ports have been linked by ferry, and LD Lines plans to operate one return crossing a day.

The ferry, Seven Sisters, will leave Dieppe at 12.30pm, arriving at Dover at 3.45pm, sailing from Dover at 6pm and arriving at Dieppe at 11.15pm.

The company says the service will open “significant, new direct tourist and commercial trading links” between the South East of England and the Normandy region of Northern France.

The ferry can carry up to 52 freight vehicles, 300 cars and 600 passengers. The crossing time will be four hours 15 minutes, and the introductory tickets will be £30 one way for a car and four passengers.

LD Lines Managing Director, Christophe Santoni, said: “The Dover Strait is the biggest ferry market in the world and we have identified for some time that this new route would be a commercial advantage for LD Lines to provide a network on the Western Channel and Dover Strait.

For more information visit www.ldlines.com or call 0844 576 8836