A cross-Channel ferry boss has warned that fares will increase "significantly" because of the cost of fuel.

Curt Stavis, chief executive of SpeedFerries who operates services between Dover and Boulogne, said he could see little hope for a change in the growing global fuel problem.

Yesterday hundreds of truckers, many from Kent, took to the roasds in a protest over increasing fuel prices.

"I therefore expect the price level of all ferry crossings on the Channel, and everywhere else, to rise significantly and I fear this situation may very well be permanent," he said.

"The environmentally-friendly diesel used by SpeedFerries has been affected the most and we are now looking at a scenario whereby the price is more than twice that of last year.

"There is really no alternative but to pass on a proportion of this cost to our customers.

"At the end of this week SpeedFerries will have to implement a substantial increase on all ticket types on the Dover-Boulogne service."