CONTROVERSIAL new ferries have been introduced on a busy cross-Solent route - before all the safety trials have been completed.

Two vessels operated by Wightlink - Wight Light and Wight Sky - entered service on the Lymington to Yarmouth route this morning.

The move was immediately condemned by the Lymington Harbour Commissioners (LHC), who said they were asking the government to halt the ferries.

The commissioners said they would also be providing extra harbour patrols to guarantee of safety of other river users.

LHC chairman Peter Griffiths said: "Wightlink have defied the will of all the regulators in deciding to introduce their new ferries before the necessary safety trials are complete and the environmental concerns have been resolved.

"They have taken this action despite repeated requests from the LHC and their previous undertaking not to do so.

"They claim they are justified because of the needs of the Isle of Wight but the real problem is Wightlink's determination to design and build new ferries in advance of meaningful consultations with all the regulators."

Mr Griffiths said Wightlink had been determined to introduce ferries that had already been paid for.

He added: "We have once again requested Wightlink to desist from this action and are contacting all the relevant government departments for support in preventing it.

"We will be providing whatever harbour patrols are appropriate to help safeguard other river users.

"These actions will be taken by the commissioners in order to minimise any threat to the safety of other river users."

Yesterday Wightlink issued a statement saying the ferries were safe and would have no adverse impact on the Lymington River.

The statement said the vessels would be covered by safety restrictions until the one remaining sea trial had been carried out.