The Newhaven cross-Channel ferry service resumed today after safety inspectors gave it the all-clear.

It means there should be a pre-Christmas service on the Newhaven-Dieppe route and shoppers will be able to take advantage of the popular Saturday sailing from Newhaven for a last-minute shopping spree in France.

The go-ahead for the twice daily sailing of the Sardinia Vera was given yesterday after the vessel underwent a stringent inspection by English and French safety experts in Dieppe.

The vessel sails the route all year round. Hoverspeed operates a summer-only fast ferry service.

The Sardinia Vera, a converted freighter, has not been running since November 29 after a routine safety inspection found faults and the mainly Italian crew was unable to carry out a satisfactory emergency drill.

A second inspection identified 31 faults, including leaks to the inner bow door.

Marine engineers have been working round the clock to rectify the faults and the crew has been having almost daily emergency drill.

The passenger licence was revoked until all the faults were rectified. A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "The Italian Coastguard and our officials, along with the French, have been on board and given the ship a thorough inspection and we are perfectly satisfied it is safe.

"A lot of work has been done in a short time. We are now satisfied with the crew's ability to cope in an emergency."

Steve Forrest, operations manager for Transmanche in Newhaven, said: "We shall be making two passenger and freight sailings a day, leaving Newhaven at 9am and 9pm Monday to Friday, and our popular Saturday sailing from Newhaven at 9am, returning to Newhaven at 11pm, which gives day-trippers six hours in Dieppe."

Lewes MP Norman Baker said: "The French should now do all they can to market this service properly so people know it exists."