STRIKE-hit Brittany Ferries is adding more crossings to its Poole-Cherbourg route to help customers who want to get to or from France.

The high-speed service, which takes two and a half hours, is an alternative to crossing from Portsmouth and Plymouth which the firm has been forced to cancel after wildcat strikes by French crew members.

They have been taking industrial action in a dispute over proposed changes to terms and conditions to cut costs.

Talks between unions and the company have been held in the French port of Roscoff in a bid to end the dispute.

Priority on the extra services will be given to customers already holding bookings who will still be entitled to onward travel costs in France if their original booking was from a French port other than Cherbourg.

The schedule is:

Monday October 1: Depart Poole 1700, depart Cherbourg 2130.

Tuesday October 2: Depart Poole 1530, depart Cherbourg 1800.

Wednesday October 3: Depart Poole 1830, depart Cherbourg 2300.

Thursday October 4: Depart Poole 1900, depart Cherbourg 2330.

Friday October 5: Depart Poole 1930, depart Cherbourg 2359.