Irish Ferries has launched a new Dover to Calais ferry route with fares starting from £69 per car – including up to nine passengers.

The new service launches on 29 June, and Irish Ferries is hoping to capitalise on interest from Brits eager to travel into Europe when Covid restrictions lift.

The recently-refurbished Isle of Inishmore ferry has been assigned to the route: it includes an upgraded Club Class lounge which offers seating with 360-degree views.

There’s also O’Flaherty’s bar, Boylan’s Brasserie and Café Lafayette.

Travellers can use free wifi, plenty of space is available outdoors, and there are dedicated and safe play areas for children.

Duty-free shopping is available – and Irish Ferries allows travellers to pre-order in advance with a ‘click and collect’ service.

The company says travelling by ferry gives holidaymakers much more flexibility: they can load up cars with unlimited luggage – and take pets along too.

Social distancing onboard is easy and, of course, there’s plenty of opportunity to grab 100 percent fresh air – simply by stepping outdoors.

The ferry crossing from Dover to Calais takes 90 minutes (compared to 35 minutes for the Channel Tunnel).

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Thefts of catalytic converters have soared by more than 100 percent in the past year, according to new data.

Figures obtained from 25 police forces via Freedom of Information requests by consumer group Which? showed a 104 percent rise in devices being stolen between 2019 and 2020.

Which? said organised gangs are ‘targeting tens of cars each day’ as the scrap value of a single ‘cat’ is £400 at present.

Sales via social media make it difficult for the police to trace criminals, too. Despite being an offence under the 2013 Scrap Metal Dealers Act, the publication found advertisements on Facebook offering cash for catalytic converters.

Scrap metal dealers and collectors must now also be licensed, although frequently there are no obvious credentials displayed by Facebook users, Which? added.

A nationwide problem

The West Midlands has some of the largest numbers of catalytic converter thefts, often focused on hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars, but the problem has spread across the country. The county of Dorset, for example, saw a 187 percent increase in 2020.

“Catalytic converter thefts can leave victims with pricey repair bills, rising premiums or even complete write-offs, so it’s concerning to see such a huge spike in these crimes across the country,” said Harry Rose, editor of Which?

“To minimise the chance of your car being targeted you should consider installing traceable marking tools and a Catloc on your converter, or park in an area covered by CCTV. These steps could help to identify or deter thieves.”

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The final spec of a special edition Ford Puma ST has been revealed following a unique crowdsourcing experiment.

Nearly 275,000 enthusiasts took part in a series of social media polls to determine the look of the new Puma ST – with the winning car confirmed as the Ford Puma ST Gold Edition.

Ford asked enthusiasts to choose numerous aspects of the car, including exterior colour, brake caliper finish, exterior decals and even the colour of the stitching on the seatbelts.

In the battle of paint colour, grey lost out to black, which won by a 56 percent margin; black brakes were, however, rejected, with three in four enthusiasts preferring red.

Even the name went to the polls, with 59 percent of people voting for Puma ST Gold Edition over Puma ST 24K Edition.

“To create something truly special for our loyal performance fans, we’ve moved to a forward-looking approach in co-creating the Puma ST Gold Edition with them,” said Amko Leenarts, Ford’s design director.

“The number of votes cast shows just how enthusiastic our customers are – and that they have excellent taste.

“It’s all in the details, and with this special edition, our fans have configured a truly desirable product.”

Voting took place over 10 days on Ford’s Twitter and Instagram channels.

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An alarming 20 percent of motorists don’t know which driver should be given priority at a T-junction, a new survey has suggested.

Findings from a poll conducted by comparison website USwitch also claimed that 15 percent of those surveyed did not recognise the sign.

USwitch claimed 44 percent of motorists ‘have forgotten common road sign meanings’. It said 17 percent of people think the sign for ‘end of minimum speed limit’ means ‘maximum speed limit’.

The firm added the sign warning drivers that they are approaching a zebra crossing is often mistaken for ‘pedestrians walking along the road’ (27 percent) and ‘traffic light patrolled pedestrian crossings’(21%), while it said 20 percent of respondents think the sign for ‘cycle route ahead’ means ‘no cyclists allowed’.

“Everyone can benefit from brushing up on their driving knowledge, both in and out of the car. As driving test regulations have changed since 1973, those aged 48+ could see a significant benefit in some catch-up work,” said Joel Kempson from USwitch. 

“We would advise looking through the Highway Code every once in a while, to make sure you still know what you would have learned for your driving test.

“Road signs can vary across the country, so it is also important to check that your driving knowledge covers the whole of the UK.”

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Bentley coachbuilder Bensport has unveiled an electric version of its retro La Sarthe model.

Called the Le Sarthe E, the model replaces a 4.5-litre straight-six engine with an EV powertrain that has been sourced from Advanced Electric Machines.

Mated to a 54kWh battery, Bensport reckons the car should be able to travel up to 200 miles between recharges.

Like the petrol version, the La Sarthe E is built upon an original Bentley Mk6 or R-type chassis which is ‘meticulously reconditioned’. The bodyshell, meanwhile, is hand-crafted by the Somerset-based coachbuilder.

Bensport produces ‘two or three cars a year’, a spokesman told Motoring Research, and the firm could not provide a projection for how many vehicles it is hoping to build.

The petrol-powered La Sarthe costs £500,000, including the donor vehicle and it is likely that the electric vehicle will be similarly priced when it officially goes on sale next week.

“When we created the La Sarthe, we wanted it to optimise elegance, refinement and dynamism, said Bob Perry, managing director of Bensport.

“Our La Sarthe E takes this ethos to a new level, offering an almost silent drive, while also drawing our focus to sustainability.

“We’re delighted to be working with AEM to integrate what we believe to be the world’s most sustainable electric motor in the La Sarthe E as a statement of our intent.”

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A section of Oxford Street in London is to be closed to traffic from later this year as part of plans drawn up by Westminster Council.

Under the proposals, the stretch from John Prince’s Street to the west of Oxford Circus, through to Great Portland Street to the east will be shut to buses and taxis, creating two ‘pedestrian piazzas’ on either side of Oxford Circus.

There will still be traffic along Regent Street but this will be “calmed” through longer green phases at pedestrian crossings and other measures, Westminster Council said.

The authority added that by prioritising people over vehicles, the changes could improve air quality as the works on Oxford Circus are expected to reduce vehicle traffic and improve efficiency of bus journeys across the area.

“There is an urgent need to tackle issues with pedestrian congestion and safety, poor air quality and noise. The serious congestion of Oxford Circus, of people and of traffic, is unsustainable and demands action,” said Westminster City Council leader Rachael Robathan.

“In the aftermath of the pandemic, and with the arrival of the Elizabeth Line, there is an overwhelming need and a compelling opportunity to build back better; a business-as-usual approach will no longer work.

“We hope the creation of these pedestrian-only piazzas at Oxford Circus will not only improve safety, security and accessibility, but create an iconic destination at the heart of London.”

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