Kelly Brook at Dover. Picture: David Parry/PA

Kent model and actress Kelly Brook has launched a new ferry service at Dover today.

The Rochester-born TV star, who now lives near Grafty Green, donned a captain's hat for the champagne launch of DFDS/LD Lines' Dover-Calais route.

The Norman Spirit left Dover at 1.30pm, signalling a new period of fierce competition in the wake of the demise of SeaFrance.

Since the French-owned operation was suspended in November and later collapsed into liquidation, P&O Ferries has had the Dover-Calais market to itself.

The Dover-based giant has invested £300m in two new superferries the Spirit of Britain and the Spirit of France, which recently made their inaugural crossings.

Now the DFDS Seaways/LD Lines consortium is launching the new route - offering just one ship for the moment but promising to add a second.

DFDS already operates the Dover-Dunkirk service (formerly Norfolkline) and LD Lines previously ran a Dover-Boulogne service.

Kelly Brook was joined by Carsten Jensen, senior vice-president of DFDS Seaways and Christophe Santoni, managing director of LD Lines, at a lively dockside ceremony.