AU REVOIR Newhaven, bonjour Dieppe!

There was widespread rejoicing as the only ferry link between Sussex and the Continent was restored.

It was champagne all the way for dignitaries on the first return-trip by the new Hoverspeed SuperSeacat ferry before the service resumes today.

And there was a special cargo on board in the shape of a clinker-built beach boat, which worked off Brighton half a century ago and is being given to Dieppe to be put on public show.

It was taken over on a vehicle and trailer from the University of Brighton, where students spent many hours restoring and constructing it as part of a European initiative to demonstrate the different traditions of fishing communities in East Sussex and Normandy.

Brighton and Hove councillor Andy Durr, vice chairman of arts and leisure, said: "It is marvellous that we can take this boat over on the first crossing of the new link. Let us hope this will restore many links between Sussex and France."

The SuperSeacat's commercial operation was due to begin today with more than 100 cars and 400 passengers booked on the 64-mile crossing to Dieppe.

It is hoped the 100-metre ferry, the largest fast-car ferry to operate on the historic cross-Channel link between the two towns, will be the saviour of the route.

Those on yesterday's inaugural crossing were impressed at the way SuperSeacat Two cut through waves of nearly three metres on its journey to Dieppe.

The feeling was that if it can cope with weather like that, the ferry, which can take 700 passengers and 175 cars, will not be cancelled too often.

At peak time, Hoverspeed plans to operate six ferries a day.

The ferry can make the journey within two hours.

It has been three months since the Newhaven-Dieppe service last ran, following P&O Stena Line's decision to pull out of the crossing at the end of January.

Many feared it would be the death knell for Newhaven.

There was further outrage when sacked workers at the Sussex port were told they had missed out on a round of redundancy payouts given to their French counterparts.

Union bosses had initially anticipated compensation of around £18,000-per-person.

Port chiefs Sea Containers also came under fire last week, when Newhaven residents handed in a 5,000-signature petition urging them to secure a permanent continental link.

Now David Benson, president of Sea Containers, which also owns the port of Newhaven and operates Hoverspeed, is pleading with the people of Sussex: "Use this route, or lose it."

There was a warning also from Lewes MP Norman Baker, who presented the management of Sea Containers with a 5,000-strong petition as the ferry service started. It urged Sea Containers to invest more in the port of Newhaven.

Mr Baker said: "We need an all-year round ferry service. We are pleased that Hoverspeed is operating a service but this is just a sticking plaster solution."

Brighton hoteliers were delighted the service was back, as were the people of Dieppe.

The mayor and MP for Dieppe Christian Cuvilliez said: "We are pleased the service has been resumed. It is estimated the 600,000 people who travel between Newhaven and Dieppe bring £25 million to our local economy. We want to see an all-year-round service."

John Baihji , of Brighton's Kings Hotel and a member of Brighton and Hove's Hotel Association, said: "It is vital for the hotel trade in Brighton that the link is restored."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.