A LOCALLY based search and rescue helicopter service is needed to patrol the busy Kent coastline and the Straits of Dover, says North Thanet MP Roger Gale. He made his renewed call in the House of Commons in the wake of a collision in the Channel between a ferry and a high-speed catamaran in dense fog.

Mr Gale vigorously opposed the transfer of the RAF rescue Sea King unit from Manston airport to RAF Wattisham in Suffolk in the 1990s and has long advocated the introduction of a civilian set up to cover the area.

Mr Gale, vice chairman of the Conservative Party, said: “The Straits of Dover is the busiest sea lane in the world and has been likened to a six-lane motorway with children running back and forth across it. We are lucky to have a superb coastguard service that does a tremendous job of maritime traffic control from Dover.

"Nevertheless, accidents do happen and I find it extraordinary that this waterway does not have a dedicated civilian search and rescue service based on the English side of the Channel. Perceived wisdom has been that French, Dutch and Belgian aircraft together with our own from lee-on-Solent and RAF Wattisham can do the job within the time and, happily, to date we have had no serious incident to put that thesis to the test.

"But do we have to wait for the horror of a sinking passenger ferry, perhaps in midwinter cold, before we take another look at this need? Having spoken personally with families who lost loved ones in the Herald of Free Enterprise tragedy I never want to be in a position to say ‘I told you so’ regarding this issue.”

An investigation into the lastest collision that happened outside Dover on Sunday is continuing.. A spokesman for Dover Coastguard said the Hoverspeed Seacat had a 25m scratch down its side after the clash with the freight ship Northern Merchant.

He added: "The incident could quite easily have been a lot nastier and there was quite substantial damage to the Seacat, but thankfully no-one was hurt."

The Northern Merchant, with its 59 passengers and 43 crew, was on its way from Dover to Dunkirk when the collision occurred just before 10am. Diamant, the Hoverspeed craft, had 148 people on board and was able to continue its journey into Dover for a normal unloading of passengers and cars.

Nick Stevens, the company's public relations officer, said: "There was no damage to the water-tight area of the Seacat. I would describe the incident as no more than a brush."

Coastguards estimated visibility at between 200-300 yards when the collision occurred three miles south east of Dover and said it was too early to apportion blame.