A UK-Belgium ferry route is to be cut between Hull and Belgium in a decision that has been described as the "end of an era" for the city.

Operator P&O Ferries said it was closing its service to Zeebrugge following a sharp drop in demand because of coronavirus.

Maritime historian Robb Robinson said Hull was losing another of its "connections with the Continent"

He described the decision as "damaging to the standing of the port".

Mr Robinson, who is a research fellow at the University of Hull, said: "It's very sad. "It's the end of an era.

"The purpose of the original settlement [Hull] was to trade with the Low Countries and literally the ferry is a modern example of the continuity of that trading and movement of peoples that's been going on for over 900 years or thereabouts."

"It really is psychologically, I think, quite serious damage in terms of that break."

For much more on the closure of the North Sea ferry BBC News reports here. 

Afloat adds P&O Ferries also operate out of Hull on the route to Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In addition to operations on the Irish Sea, Dublin-Liverpool and on the North Channel the Larne-Cairnryan link.