A NEW ferry service between Warrenpoint and Heysham in Lancashire has resulted in the creation of 25 new jobs. Seatruck Ferries began the service at the end of April with a single vessel another is due to start operating next month.

A director of Seatruck, Mr Ivan Brown, said there were 35 loads on each sailing. "The route will protect the jobs of around 100 drivers in the area," Mr Brown said, "because hauliers have to go where the ships are."

Ports like Belfast, Larne, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire had benefited from the increase in exports from Northern Ireland at the expense of Warrenpoint, but hauliers now had the choice of the Warrenpoint route, he said.