The UK government has reportedly cancelled a controversial ‘no-deal’ Brexit ferry contract with Seaborne Freight.

The deal was pulled after an Irish shipping firm that had been secretly backing the deal pulled out, reports British newspaper The Guardian.

Seaborne Freight was awarded a contract in early January to restart the Ramsgate ferry link to Europe, which it is hoped will alleviate anticipated queues at the Port of Dover in the event of a no-deal Brexit.