The parents of a man feared dead after he went missing on a cross-Channel ferry are calling for CCTV cameras on passenger decks to prevent other tragedies.

Marianne and Bob Fearnside, of Clare Road, Whitstable, have launched an online petition to install cameras on P&O ferries after their son Richard was reported missing in May.

Richard, 30, was thought to have fallen overboard on the Pride of Kent ferry while having a cigarette as he travelled back to Dover from a holiday.

The alarm was raised by his girlfriend after there was no sign of him when the ship docked at Dover after the trip from Calais.

His disappearance sparked a four-hour manhunt - including lifeboat crews, helicopters and a Royal Navy ship - but a body has not been discovered.

His family said they might never know what happened to their son, who was living in Canterbury, but hope a campaign for cameras on deck will prevent it from happening again.

Retired teacher Mrs Fearnside said: "Whenever we tell people Richard disappeared and we don't know what happened to him because there is no CCTV cameras they are always amazed because they assume they will be there.

"We don't know whether Richard slipped, fell, jumped or was pushed - we have no idea what happened to our son. He just vanished."

The couple have written to P&O Ferries asking them to put cameras on passenger decks, but have been told by the shipping firm they are unable to do so.

P&O Ferries spokesman Chris Laming said: "Whilst P&O Ferries extends its deepest sympathy to the Fearnside family we have explained that it would be impossible to cover all of the outside decks with CCTV.

"It would be impossible to monitor such cameras in real time and impossible to record such images in perpetuity."

But Mr and Mrs Fearnside blasted P&O's response as "derisory".

Mrs Fearnside added: "Had they had CCTV cameras they would have known precisely where and when to look. That might of have saved him.

"We've managed to launch this camapign, but it has taken us six months to pull ourselves together. We are so shocked and horrified at the loss of our son."

To view the couple's petition, click here.

What do you think of the idea to install CCTV cameras on all decks? Join the debate by leaving a comment below.

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