Brittany Ferries pulls the plug on the Barfleur after the Poole Cherbourg crossing proves uneconomic to run

TWINNERS in East Devon and West Dorset are mourning the permanent withdrawl of the cross channel cruise ferry link between Poole and Cherbourg.

Brittany Ferries, operators of the Barfleur, have annouced that she will not be going back into service, although a high speed catamaran will run from the port in the summer months.

A spokesman told The Herald the decision to withdraw the service was a result of the “dire” economic situation in the UK. He said they would review the situation for 2013 but in the meantime the vessel was up for sale.

Seaton twinning committee member Glyn Roberts said the loss of the Barfleur was a blow. Twinners heading for Normandy now faced a long trek to Portsmouth to catch the nearest cruise ferry. But the crossing to Caen meant that once on French soil they faced a shorter drive to their partners at Thury Harcourt than from Cherbourg. A similar situation faces Axminster people visiting their twins at Douvres La Delivrande.

But for Lyme Regis people wanting to visit their soon-to-be partners in Barfleur it will mean a much longer drive once they arrive in France.