Customers of stricken ferry firm SeaFrance are to be refunded for unfulfilled bookings.

That is the promise as SeaFrance issued a statement today following its full liquidation in the French courts on January 9.

It comes after weeks of wranglings over its future. Several bids to buy it out, including one from the workers, failed and it finally ceased to trade last week.

But sailings for Calais had already been suspended.

In a statement released today SeaFrance said it had always respected its obligations to its customers and regretted not being able to fulfil any outstanding customer bookings.

It added: "The company has set up an automatic refund process for all current bookings and customers will be contacted about this process by email within 24 hours.

"Customers’ bank accounts will be credited with a full refund as soon as possible."

It said the staff of SeaFrance were grateful to their loyal customers, and hoped passengers would be able to make alternative travel arrangements.