A cross-Channel ferry was struck by Storm Imogen last night causing bottles and cans crashing to the floor.

John Sheridan, of Church Lane, Deal, was on the P&O Ferries vessel the Spirit of France on Monday night during rough seas.

Staff rushed to cover shelves in cling film to secure stock and also cleared up broken glass.

Mr Sheridan said: “We were on the Spirit of France ferry in the evening sailing from France to Dover. I can’t remember the sailing time as there were delays due to the ports only allowing one docking at a time.

“Basically it was very rough, bottles of whiskey, vodka and other spirits were falling from the shelves due to the ferry being tossed about by the large waves, I’d have said it was worse mid-way through the channel and towards Dover strait.

“The crew looked after everyone pretty well but there was a few green faces.”

Mr Sheridan said he got the impression the earlier sailings had been rougher with heavy wind and rain creating high waves which tossed the ferry from side to side.

A spokesman for P&O Ferries said: “Weather conditions over the last 24 hours have been exceptional, with winds of up to 60 knots in the Channel, which is extremely rare.

"The priority of our crew at all times is the safety of our passengers and we very much hope that they will enjoy smoother crossings now that the storm has passed.”