A cross-Channel ferry company has confirmed that it will start operating new services from Dover to Boulogne and Dieppe next month.

It follows the exclusive story in the Mercury in December that, following the collapse of SpeedFerries, LD Lines was planning to bring forward the launch date of the Boulogne service from July to February.

LD Lines managing director Christophe Santoni has confirmed that the new ferries will start operating from the Eastern Docks on February 12. In Boulogne, the ship will used the existing berth previously used by SpeedFerries.

Construction of the Port of Boulogne's new Hub Port Ro Ro terminal is well advanced, and LD Lines will be inaugurating the new berth facilities with the addition of a second ship to the route from July 1. Sailing frequency between Dover and Boulogne will then increase from two to six return sailings daily.

"We can clearly identify the strong commercial opportunities for a direct ferry link to be re-established between Dover and Boulogne following the departure of the previous operator," said M Santoni.

Up to two return sailings daily will be provided between Dover and Boulogne with a crossing time of one hour 45 minutes. One round trip daily will operate between Dover and Dieppe with a crossing time of four hours 15 minutes.

The ships introducing the new services will alternate between the Seven Sisters and Cote d'Albatre , both of which were builtm in 2007 and currently operate on the Newhaven - Dieppe route. They each have capacity for 600 passengers and 300 cars or 52 freight vehicles or combination of both.

Fares to Boulogne, booked before the end of January, will start from £24 one way for a car and four passengers and on the Dover - Dieppe route from £29.50 each way for a car and two passengers.