A decision on whether the Port of Dover can be sold will not now be made until the end of June at the earliest.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond announced today that he is launching a consultation on the criteria that the government considers relevant to whether or not major trust ports should be sold.

During the consultation period, which will run for six weeks until June 27, Mr Hammond said he was seeking the views of interested parties on the new criteria he was proposing to adopt.

"In view of this consultation, I have asked my the Minister of State to suspend her consideration of the application for a transfer of the port undertaking made by Dover Harbour Board under the Ports Act 1991 until I announce a decision on the proposed criteria," he said.

A spokesman for Dover Harbour Board welcomed the decision to widen the consultation.

"We are entirely comfortable that our voluntary privatisation scheme, as already submitted to the Department for Transport, is very community focused.

"Our proposed Port of Dover Community Trust, which would see a significant community stake in a newly privatised port, would enable substantial proceeds to be used to fund important social and economic regeneration in and around Dover alongside the necessary private investment to fund ongoing development of the Port in the local and national interest.

"We have been re-assured by what is being proposed in this trust port consultation in that our scheme fits well with Government's latest thinking. We look forward to developing our plans further with all stakeholders."