P&O says failure to dredge the estuary will stop ferry services

Shipping company P&O had previously pledged its support to the docks after a �17m facelift, and switched its Irish Sea crossings from Liverpool.

But 18 months later P&O decided to sell its routes and vessels to Stena Line, leaving Mostyn without a ferry company to take passengers to Ireland.

Twenty six P&O workers will be made redundant under the deal.

Port of Mostyn managing director Jim O'Toole confirmed the last ferry would sail on Sunday.

Grant aid

The ship will sail at 2200 BST.

But the total number of jobs lost is likely to be nearer 100, when support staff and ancillary workers are included.

The company said it had to leave the dock because the estuary has not been dredged.

Without dredging a regular timetable had not been available because ferries could only get in and out of Mostyn when the tide was right.

Port managers are trying to persuade the Environment Agency to allow dredging of the estuary to go ahead.

The dock says it is important for the future of a deal with Airbus to send wings from the aviation company's Broughton plant, via Mostyn and onto France.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan officially opened Mostyn Docks in February 2001.

The transformation was made possible with a �17m investment under grant aid from the Welsh Assembly Government.