P&O wants to axe 840 jobs in Dover as part of a radical shake-up

The Pride of Provence was withdrawn from service at 3.15am on Monday and will eventually be sold to a new owner.

Its crew have been assigned to other ships while negotiations continue with unions over proposed job losses.

P&O announced in September that 840 jobs would be axed in Dover as part of a major restructuring to cut costs and revive its faltering ferry business.

A second ferry, the Pride of Aquitaine, is due to be taken out of service next spring.

A freight-only ship, the European Seaway, is being added to the fleet next month.

Talks over proposed job losses are expected to conclude early next year.

Last month P&O workers at Dover belonging to the RMT union voted in favour of industrial action short of a strike in protest at the plans.