Passengers at the Port of Dover. Library picture

The Port of Dover enjoyed a strong first quarter of the year, with growth in passengers, coaches and trucks.

Compared to the same period a year ago, passenger numbers jumped 6.5%

to 2,135,295, coach traffic was up 13.8% to 15,640, and road haulage vehicles rose 6.7% to 518,979.

The port was helped by an early Easter when it handled more than a quarter of a million passengers, with 75,000 people travelling on Good Friday alone, the busiest day of the holiday break.

The addition of a third operator - My Ferry Link – also expanded the cross-Channel market out of Dover.

Tim Godden, head of strategic analysis, said: “We are delighted that in spite of the ongoing economic challenge, passengers are still choosing to travel the Channel using the Port of Dover.

"The increased traffic, combined with the early Easter holiday, contributed towards a positive start to 2013.”