The service to be run by HighSpeedFerries from Weymouth in the UK to Cherbourg in France could be in operation by the autumn, the BBC reported.

The company wants to use the terminal left by Condor, which moved to Poole.

The journey will take under two hours.

The local council is in talks over the service.

Two or three sailings a day could be operated by 2016, with 90 jobs created.