HD Ferries is to stop all sailings from this weekend with the loss of up to eight jobs.

The troubled ferry company is blaming the rising cost of oil and a slow down in business for its decision to cease operating.

But the news has angered Economic Development, who believe that HD should not be able to ‘cherry-pick’ when and where it operates after being granted operating licences.

The company’s Sunday evening’s sailing from St Malo to Jersey will be its last for the time being, although the company intends to try to return in the spring.

• Full report in Thursday’s Jersey Evening Post.