The ports of Dover and Southampton have united to oppose a bid by Liverpool to grab a slice of their cruise business.

As many as 12,000 people from both towns signed a petition that has been handed in at 10 Downing Street.

Residents, port workers and industry suppliers oppose the plan to develop a cruise terminal with public funding worth £20m, claiming it will compete with terminals paid for by private investment.

Liverpool is seeking a go-ahead to its plans to operate cruise operations and the government is expected to announce its verdict before the end of the month.

The UK Cruise Port Alliance (UKCPA) estimates the move could cost the Dover and Southampton economies around £80m.

It is calling on the government to insist Liverpool pays back all the public money it received to build the terminal, including £9m from the EU.

Jimmy Chestnutt, UKCPA chairman, said: "This is a very simple issue - it's about fairness and a level playing field in the cruise industry. People clearly don't want to see their jobs and businesses damaged by competition funded by their own taxes."