The captain of P&O cross Channel ferry, Pride of Provence, which hit a breakwater in Dover has been suspended.

The 28,559-tonne vessel, carrying nearly 650 passengers and crew, was arriving from Calais at 5.30pm on 18 April when the incident happened, leaving 28 people injured.

Damage to the vessel is being assessed in a Dunkirk shipyard and an investigation into the cause of the collision has been launched by P&O.

The company is reported to have said that the outcome of the inquiry - which would involve checking the ship's black box voyage log - might not be known for some time and that it was normal practise for the captain to be taken off duty in the meantime. www.poferries.com