BRITTANY Ferries has amended some of it scheduled sailings to and from Poole as it prepares to accommodate extra sailings in the event of a no deal Brexit.

The cross-channel ferry operator said timetables from Poole, Portsmouth and Plymouth were being revised to ensure "critical goods" could still be transported.

Around 10,000 passengers have been affected, including those set to travel on the Poole to Cherbourg route.

A Brittany Ferries spokesman said: "In most cases it's no change or a small change. But in some cases it can involve moving from an overnight sailing to a morning or afternoon sailing or vice versa.

"We apologise in advance for any inconvenience that these changes may cause, but hope that the additional sailings will offer customers more choice."

The company said it had changed its schedules and was contacting all affected customers.

In December, Government transport chiefs signed a £46.6 million deal with Brittany Ferries to increase its freight sailings and ease pressure on Dover in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The deal could see a 50 per cent increase in the company's freight capacity in and out of Poole Harbour, Portsmouth, and Plymouth.

Nineteen weekly return sailings will be added to three Brittany Ferries' routes - Cherbourg to Poole, Le Havre to Portsmouth and Roscoff to Plymouth.

These routes, which will come into effect from March 29, 2019 - the day the UK is currently scheduled to officially leave the European Union - will allow more space for lorries.