CROSS-CHANNEL ferry operator SeaFrance made waves in December by carrying a record number of cars.

The Dover-Calais service is celebrating its best December performance, with more than 55,000 cars, 2,000 up on the prevous best in 1996.

All crossings on the weekend of December 21/22 were full as British passengers travelled to France to stock up on Christmas fare.

The number of cars carried in December was up 16 per cent on the previous year, while passenger traffic rose by eight per cent.

These figures rounded off a good year for the operator which posted an annual 13 per cent increase in the number of cars carried and a six per cent increase in passengers.

SeaFrance UK’s managing director Robin Wilkins said: "Our customers are amongst the UK’s most savvy and these figures show they are well aware of the bargains available over in France for Christmas.

"It has been a great year for SeaFrance and our staff have worked hard to drive these results."