FAST ferry building is set to return to the South, bringing dozens of jobs with it.

Ferry firm Red Funnel has announced that a new high-speed Red Jet Six service will be built that is expected to start service next year.

More than 60 jobs will be created after the firm appointed Isle of Wight firm Shemara Refit to build the new vessel.

It will be constructed at the Columbine Building in Venture Quays in East Cowes and work is set to begin in July.

The new high-speed service will ‎be able to take 275 passengers between Southampton and the Isle of Wight.

Red Funnel chief executive Kevin George spoke at the official unveiling of the plans this morning at the Columbine Building, saying it was an "important day for Red Funnel and for shipping."

He said: "The reason that we decided upon Shemara Refit was because here was an opportunity to build the type of vessel we wanted, to make a really significant inward investment in the island and to help the ship-building industry on the island and to bring high speed catamaran building back to the UK after such a long gap."