Loss of ferry service will damage tourist trade, warns Beith

3.45.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 28th May 2008

Alan Beith, the Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick upon Tweed, has spoken out following the announcement that DFDS are to end sailings from North Shields to Norway from 1 September 2008.

Mr Beith, who has used the service many times, said

"As well as giving rise to 300 job losses here and in Norway, the loss of the service will be a bitter blow to the very longstanding links between the north east and Norway and will hit many regular travellers in the Anglo-Norwegian community, as well as the tourist trade on both sides of the North Sea.

"I am raising the future of the service with DFDS and with the Norwegian Ambassador to see if there is anything which can be done to help secure a future for this service, which was rescued before, several years ago."