The port of Dover saw a fall in coach traffic last year that lead to fewer passengers using it.

In 2008 the port handled 14.16 million passengers, a fall of 2.3% on the previous year.

98,000 coaches travelled through the port in Kent last year seeing a 6.7% fall from the number in 2007.

A total of 2.8 million cars were handled last year through the port which is around the same as in 2007. However freight fell 2.4% to 2.3 million units on the 2007 total.

A record 144 cruise ships sailed into the port carrying 270,000 passengers and generating a £4.9 million income.

Before tax profits for 2008 fell £4 million to £16.6 million, however profits were up 2% to £15.1 million with revenue rising 5.3% to £6038 million. Ferry revenue rose 3.7% to £44.3 million.

Port chiefs say they plan to double the port capacity with a second terminal with cash reserves of more than £43 million to fund capital works.