Abput 8,000 fewer people came to Jersey from the UK by ferry this year compared with 2003.

It is the second year in a row the number of sea passengers has fallen, according to Jersey Harbours.

It says numbers have been going down since competition started among airlines offering low price tickets, and numbers may continue to fall.

The number of people travelling to Jersey from Weymouth, Poole and Portsmouth in 2003 was also down by 13,000 on the previous year.

Piers Baker from Jersey Harbours said falling figures are also linked to the island's tourism industry which he describes as much smaller than it used to be, with fewer hotels and places for people to stay.

He added while numbers of people travelling from the UK may continue to fall, he expects it to level out at some point, saying people will always need to bring their cars to and from Jersey.