Pilots from a Dover-based hovercraft company made a crossing of the Channel today to mark the 40th anniversary of the first commercial hovercraft service from the port.

But they were using somewhat smaller craft than the SRN4 Princess Margaret which made the first crossing in 1968.

Nelson Wood and Russ Pullen were at the controls of two 10-foot long two-seat hovercraft which are usually used for pleasure rides in a field near Sandwich.

Flying Fish Hovercraft, based on the White Cliffs Business Park at Whitfield, decided to make the crossing to commemorate the anniversary and show that these mini-craft are quite capable of crossing the Channel from England to France.

They set off at 7am and arrived on the French coast 57 minutes later.

"These craft can travel at 40 miles an hour, but we will be doing about 25 mph," said Russ, whose father Ivan Pullen manufactures the hovercraft. Ivan was on one of the boats escorting the two craft.

After a brief stop on the French shore, they set off on the return crossing to Dover, arriving in time for morning coffee - or a late breakfast.