A hovercraft service is planned for Anglesey

Gwynedd council have received an application for a licence to carry passengers across the Menai Straits between Brynsiencyn and Caernarfon.

The venture aims to boost tourism by linking two of the area's main visitor attractions, Anglesey Sea Zoo and Caernarfon castle.

The man behind the scheme David Morton, who lives in Conwy, hopes to start the business as soon as a licence is granted.

An electronic engineer by trade, Mr Morton said the service would boost both tourism and the local economy.

It would be a service for tourists and local residents David Morton

"It would only take five or ten minutes to take people over, saving the time they have to take to travel around and over the bridge to Bangor.

"This part of Anglesey does not have much in the way of amenities so people could pop over to Caernarfon on the ferry to do their shopping."

"For tourists it would offer more variety," he said.

Four trips an hour are planned for the mile and a half crossing.

David Lea-Wilson from Anglesey Sea Zoo said he fully supported the idea, especially because of the area's tradition of ferry crossing.

"Local people still remember the ferry service from Brynsiencyn to Caernarfon that came to an end in 1954.

"We have been behind trying to restore this kind of service for two years," he said.

"Because of the historic links, some people on Anglesey still have bank accounts in Caernarfon.

"Also we would like visitors who park their cars in Caernarfon to be able to come over here and vice versa," he said.

Menai Bridge opened in 1826

The service would run for 10 months a year and would employ local people to assist at both ends of the crossing.

Mr Morton plans to buy the 20ft hovercraft - capable of carrying 12 passengers - from Florida if the licence is granted.

Barry Davies, Gwynedd's maritime officer, confirmed an application for a ferry service was before the council.

The next step will be for Gwynedd council to consult Caernarfon's harbour master and the town council, he said.

"We will need to make inquiries because a hovercraft would make more noise than a normal pleasure boat," he said.

But Caernarfon Town Clerk, Vernon Pierce, said the town council was "thrilled to bits" with the idea.

Before the opening of Thomas Telford's famous suspension bridge in 1826, the people of Anglesey relied on ferry services to cross the straits.