P&O Ferries latest and biggest cross Channel ferry was officially named by another record breaker.

Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes joined 300 VIPs on board P&O Ferries' £152 million cross-Channel ship, Spirit Of Britain, at Dover's Eastern Docks today (24 March) to name the ship Spirit of Britain.

The 49,000-tonne vessel can hold up to 2,000 passengers and has three vehicle decks capable of carrying nearly two and a half miles (4km) of traffic end to end.

At 700ft long and over 100 feet wide, it needs a unique docking arrangement at Dover and Calais just to tie it up.

A sister ship, the Spirit of France, is due for delivery in September.

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©