Ferry operator P&O is expecting one of the busiest shopping days of the year this weekend.

The company has taken three times the usual number of daily bookings for this time of the year.

The last Saturday before the Christmas break has prompted a surge in cross-Channel activity, with the company selling 21,000 advancing tickets for its Dover to Calais route.

It expects its on board tills to take more than £350,000 in sales across its six ships, as shoppers enjoy 50% savings on the same goods bought on the high street.

Head of merchandising Nicola Tompkins said: “The last Saturday before the Christmas break is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year on our ships and this time round we have seen advance bookings surge.”