A coach was left wedged between a ramp and the ceiling after trying to board a P&O Ferries ship.

The bus had been attempting to board the Pride of Kent when it was left in the awkward position with its wheels hanging off the ground.

A P&O Ferries spokesman said: “There was a minor incident in Calais yesterday when a bus was damaged when boarding one of our ships.

"All passengers on the bus continued their journeys. With the exception of one individual grazing their leg there were no injuries, and the ship resumed normal service after a short delay.”

Many were quick to suggest more experienced staff may have avoided the problem, after scandal-hit P&O Ferries sacked 800 staff and replaced some with staff on a wage of reportedly just £1.80 an hour.

Labour MP for Hull Karl Turner shared the picture online and tweeted: "Now this looks like yet another costly incident aboard the Pride of Kent as she was loading at Calais.

"Let’s hope nobody was injured. There is a reason we need experienced crews sailing these ferries."

Former P&O worker John Lansdown also tweeted the picture, adding: "An accident involving a coach has occurred on a P&O Ferries vessel. I hope nobody was hurt.

"This accident comes 5 months after DP World UAE-owned P&O Ferries sacked 800 experienced seafarers and replaced them with cheap overseas workers."

A spokesman for P&O Ferries said: “We are writing in response to the outrageous and misleading claims made by some individuals regarding an incident on Saturday, in which a bus was damaged in Calais when boarding one of our vessels. The bus in question was in the control of port authorities at the time of the incident.”

“We can state categorically that what happened was not related in any way shape or form to changes in our crewing model. Although we are never complacent, we have hired high-quality, experienced seafarers who have familiarised themselves with all our vessels and are working to the highest standards.”

“To suggest otherwise is grossly irresponsible and has the effect of undermining our business, which employs 2,200 people across Britain, and on which hundreds of thousands of tourists are relying for their holidays this summer.”