An Anglo-French row is brewing over the suspension of the Newhaven-Dieppe passenger ferry service.

The French are questioning the commitment of the English towards the route after passengers were banned from using the winter ferry Sardinia Vera amid fears over the vessel's safety.

Transmanche Ferries, which operates the 12,000 tonne Sardinia Vera is angry at claims that the vessel is unsafe.

Dennis Bellenger, director of Transmanche Ferries, which charters the Sardinia Vera from Corsica Ferries, said: "I wonder about the attitude of the British authorities who, in March, gave the green light for the service to start. We are surprised and disappointed."

He said the ship would not sail again until everything was "in prefect order".

The service was suspended last week, following routine safety checks by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the French Centre de Securite Affaires Maritime.

A further inspection on Wednesday by the two authorities found 31 faults, including a leaking inner bow door, leaks in supposedly weathertight doors and the sprinkler system not working properly.

On both inspections, it was found the mainly-Italian crew was incapable of carrying out satisfactory emergency drills.

The ship can sail, but only with 12 lorries and drivers on board. It cannot carry passengers on the 64-mile route until the faults have been rectified and crew retrained to cope with an emergency.

In France, the blame is being put on the English for the suspension of the service, even though French safety experts took part in the inspection.

No date has been given for the resumption of passenger services, but Transmanche said many of the faults were minor and could be quickly rectified.

Steve Forrest, operations manager for Transmanche in Newhaven, said: "This ferry is not unseaworthy.

"It can sail at any time but with only 12 lorries and their drivers on board. We are surprised at some of the findings because the ship was becoming popular."

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said its job was to ensure passenger safety.

Transmanche is part of the company which owns the port of Dieppe. The French are anxious to get a reliable all-year-round freight and passenger service operating as they have spent millions improving port facilities.

The Sardinia Vera has been chartered for £5 million a year, the equivalent of £10,000 a day, and losses are building up while the vessel is unable to sail.

Transmanche is angry about crew training standards and has suspended its payments to Corsica Ferries while the ship is tied up.

Lewes MP Norman Baker, who has campaigned for an all-year- round ferry route out of Newhaven, said: "Everyone wants to see this service succeed.

"People have worked so hard to get an all-year-round ferry service from Newhaven and this is a slap in the face.

"It was always felt Transmanche was never particularly interested in carrying passengers and it is now up to it to put these matters right as it is vital Newhaven has a reliable all- year-round ferry service."

Journalist and broadcaster Peter Avis, a regular traveller on the Sardinia Vera, said: "The French do seem to feel someone is out to get them.

"They point out competition is intense on cross-Channel routes and competitors could be glad to see the Newhaven Dieppe route fail. The French say the vessel is perfectly seaworthy."