THE Port of Dover could be heading for a bumper year. Figures for the first six months show the number of passengers who travelled through the port increased by six per cent to nearly 7.5 million compared to the same period last year.

There were 12 per cent more coaches (71,353) and nearly seven per cent more cars (1,103,255). The port also processed 928,000 lorries, an increase of six per cent, and expects to surpass last year's record annual throughput of 1.77 million lorries.

"The figures show Dover is out-performing its competitors on the Channel by increasing market share," said the port's commercial director John Turgoose. Port operations director Mike Krayenbrink said: "To accommodate the growth in traffic and speed up procession times through the port we have opened the new multi-purpose check-in plaza for tourist and freight vehicles."

The new booths came into operation on Monday night and each booth can be used for either cars or lorries. They are at the far end of the Eastern Docks which should enable more traffic to be stacked within the port.