Two new cross-Channel ferries will sail between Dover and Calais in three years.

P&O Ferries has drawn up blueprints for the vessel, which will cost at least 150 million euros (£132 million) each.

The firm's chief executive Janette Bell confirmed this in an interview with last weekend's Financial Mail on SundayJun 10.

She said: “The ships will last for 30 years so their design has to look to the future.

"Changes in technology will change the mix of goods that P&O transports and the way it transports them.

"There is a whole melting pot of trends coming together.

"We are considering driverless lorries manoeuvring on and off our ships.”

P&O Ferries, whose headquarters is at Channel House, Channel View Road, Dover, is privately owned by Dubai Ports World.

The company has a turnover of £974 million.

It operates a fleet of six ships on the cross-Channel route with up to 23 sailings a day.