Fourteen people have been airlifted to safety from a Irish Sea ferry that ran aground on the English coast last night.

A ferry which ran into trouble in high winds in the Irish Sea has run aground at Blackpool, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said tonight.

Six bodies have now been pulled from the Irish Sea following a helicopter crash in the UK yesterday.

Ports and ferries group P&O today reported bumper business at its container terminals but said a downturn in tourism had continued into 2004.

Plans by ferry operator Stena to take over the Liverpool-Dublin route from P&O were blocked today by the British Competition Commission.

The Competition Authority is to launch a Phase Two probe of the proposed acquisition by ferry operator Stena of two routes on the Irish Sea.

Ferry operator Stena was today told its plans to run the Liverpool-Dublin route would cut competition and may spark price increases.

A man and a woman from Liverpool were arrested in Northern Ireland today when police made a seizure of drugs.

Stena Line is bidding to take over a substantial part of P&O's Irish Sea operations.

Three men appeared in court today on charges relating to Northern Ireland’s largest ever seizure of cannabis, which was destined for loyalist paramilitaries.

STENA LINE is set to become the biggest player on the Irish Sea, taking over €70m of P&O’s ferry assets on two routes.

Ferry company Stena Line is set to acquire two new routes across the Irish Sea.