A service to remember those who died in the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry disaster will be held next week.
The annual service to mark the 26th anniversary of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 193 people in 1987, will take place at St Mary’s Church in Dover on Wednesday, March 6.
Last year’s service marked a quarter of a century since the disaster involving the ship sailing to Dover from Zeebrugge, and saw a congregation of more than 250 people.
The service, which starts at 11am, will be led by the Rev David Ridley, vicar of St Mary’s, with principal chaplain of the Sailors’ Society the Rev David Potterton also invited to preach.
The church service will be followed by a short service at the end of the Prince of Wales pier, during which people will be able to cast flowers on the water to remember loved ones.
Mr Potterton said: “Although a solemn occasion, it is encouraging to see how many attend.”
Terry Sutton, media officer at St Mary’s Church, said: “Survivors from the capsize and the loved ones of those who died will be at the service.
“At the end of the service many of those attending will visit the memorial rose garden on Dover seafront while others will throw flowers into the sea from the Prince of Wales Pier in memory of those who died.
“There will also be a reception at St Mary’s parish centre where former Dover ferrymen will talk about the night the Herald sailed with 460 passengers without the realisation that the bow doors were not firmly closed.”