MP Douglas Chapman has welcomed talks which could see a return of a passenger ferry service from Rosyth to mainland Europe.

P&O Ferries are willing to speak to the Scottish Government to discuss the possibility of a route from Scotland to Scandinavia.

Rosyth’s freight-only ferry to Zeebrugge is currently Scotland’s only sea link to Europe. The ferry route opened in 2002 but the passenger service ended eight years later, and now operates as freight-only.

Mr Chapman is encouraged by the potential talks and “delighted” that P&O Ferries could be interested.

He told the Press: “This is a long-running campaign to return a passenger ferry service between Rosyth and mainland Europe.

"The economics of running such a service have always been an issue and I am delighted that a hugely-experienced ferry operator, such as P&O, might be interested.

“This follows on from the Scandinavian contacts I made at the recent Arctic Circle Summit in Edinburgh where sea freight and ferry services between Northern European countries, using more fuel-efficient ships, was an exciting subject for discussion.

“The latest series of talks with Forth Ports suggested that they would be keen to see a passenger ferry service return to Rosyth if a suitable operator could be found.”

Cowdenbeath MSP Annabelle Ewing, said: “These are encouraging developments which I am watching with interest.

“As the British Government’s Brexiteers fiasco tries to break our bonds with Europe, it is extremely pleasing that the talk in Scotland is of creating connections.

“New passenger links from Rosyth to mainland Europe would be fantastic for my constituency, for Fife and for the whole of Scotland.”

A spokesman for P&O said: “We are always looking for new opportunities and would be happy to sit down with the relevant parties to discuss a route between Scotland and Scandinavia.”

Falkirk East MSP Angus MacDonald called on Transport Minister Humza Yousaf to call a summit with ferry operators between Scotland and Norway, Denmark or Sweden.

He said: “Whether we can secure a route between Rosyth, Aberdeen or elsewhere and one of the fantastic Scandinavian destinations is of course up to the ferry operators, but it would be a significant boon for our economy if we can bring the service back.”