A P&O ship which previously failed a safety inspection and was checked over again today, has now been detained once more.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) revealed earlier today they were carrying out a reinspection of the Pride of Kent at Dover.

The vessel was detained on March 28 after failing an inspection by the government agency.

However, the ship will remain detained at the port following the reinspection today which found 'additional deficiencies', the MCA has now said.

A spokesman for the agency said earlier: "All inspections have to satisfy the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that the ferries fulfil the requirement of the Port State Control regime and are safe to put to sea.

"There are no further inspections of P&O Ferries at the moment but we will reinspect at the appropriate time."

No P&O ships have sailed the Dover to Calais route since March 17 when the firm suddenly sacked nearly 800 seafarers with no prior warning or consultation.

Agency staff, being paid cheaper wages, were brought in to replace the redundant workers, with the ferry company saying it was the only way to save the firm from going under.

The move sparked backlash from the government, trade unions and public, with protests and calls to boycott the firm being held.

It has also contributed to chaos on the roads leading into Dover and around Kent, as the port struggles to cope with reduced sailings.

Yesterday, it was revealed the Spirit of Britain has also failed its safety inspection, which was carried out earlier this week.

That ship has also been detained.

The Pride of Hull, which runs the Hull to Rotterdam route, and European Causeway, Larne to Cairnryan, have been inspected and cleared to sail.

Three other ferries are yet to be inspected.

Last week, P&O bosses said they hoped to be resuming services this week, pending inspections.

This date was then pushed back to Good Friday, but it's not known when P&O ships from Dover will resume after this lastest reinspection.

A spokesman for P&O said: "We take the safety of our passengers and crew very seriously and look forward to all of our ships welcoming tourist passengers and freight customers again as soon as all mandatory safety tests have been passed.”