THE owners of Folkestone port have denied rumours that it has been sold. There has been speculation in the town that the harbour was about to change hands - and even the name of entrepreneur Richard Branson has been mentioned - but the firm which holds the asset said there is nothing in the offing.

Steve Lawrence, a spokesman for Sea Containers, said: "I don't know where this rumour has come from, but there is something going around. But there is no truth in it. The port is still for sale, although we are not actively marketing it. We have proposals for a residential development there and we are talking to the council about this, but if someone came along with an offer we would look at it."

Mr Lawrence would not reveal the value of the asset. He said this was "commercially sensitive".