A ferry has defended its crews after an incident involving a coach boarding one of its cross-Channel vessels.

The accident saw the Dover-bound vehicle left suspended in mid-air after it became wedged between a ramp and the deck ceiling on board the P&O Ferries ship Pride of Kent while it was berthed in Calais on Saturday.

Some social media users - including the Labour MP for the port city of Hull - were swift to link the mishap with the firm's decision to sack almost 800 seafarers earlier this year.

Experienced crews have been replaced by agency staff - mainly foreign workers being paid significantly less than their predecessors.

But P&O has hit back at any suggestion the incident - which did not result in any serious injuries - was down to their crewing model.

"A bus was damaged in Calais when boarding one of our vessels," a spokesman for the ferry operator said. "The bus in question was in the control of port authorities at the time of the incident.

"We can state categorically that what happened was not related in any way shape or form to changes in our crewing model.

"Although we are never complacent, we have hired high-quality, experienced seafarers who have familiarised themselves with all our vessels and are working to the highest standards.

"To suggest otherwise is grossly irresponsible and has the effect of undermining our business, which employs 2,200 people across Britain, and on which hundreds of thousands of tourists are relying for their holidays this summer."

One person suffered grazing to their leg in the accident but no other injuries were reported and the ship resumed normal service after a short delay.