WEYMOUTH harbour is becoming more and more popular for visiting yachts, according to a borough council report.

The number of visitor nights during April to December last year jumped 16 per cent to 6,618, up from 5,685 for the same period in 2002.

The boost in numbers resulted in nearly £14,000 of extra revenue for the Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, up from £72,269 to £86,008.

In a report to members and the harbour users consultative group, harbour officials said improved access and facilities were the reason for the resort's increased popularity.

Council engineering and harbour services manager Martyn Gallivan said: "Easter was a record high and July and August were particularly good.

"The policy for taking long-term visiting craft for winter storage afloat remains popular and provides welcome extra revenue."

Ferry operations also saw an overall increase in passengers during the nine-month period, despite numbers travelling to the Channel Islands falling from 191,283 to 187,916.

The figures were buoyed by a surge in people travelling to St Malo via Poole, up to 13,395 from 8,499.

Mr Gallivan said: "Condor has once again used Weymouth as its lay-up port and the boost to winter harbour dues is significant."

Cargo handling figures during April to December were almost a quarter of the level a year previously, but from the start of the period the regular visiting cargo service operated from Portland Port.

Borough councillors agreed to implement a raft of inflation-busting mooring fee increases from April 1 this year for berth holders in the inner harbour.

Rates for borough resident berth holders are set to increase by 17 per cent, while those for visiting yachts in the outer harbour will see charges per metre rise by 5.8 per cent.

The increases provoked howls of protest from boat-owners using the harbour moorings.

Terry Phillips, chairman of Weymouth harbour users committee, said improved visitor figures showed how unfairly resident boat-owners had been treated.

He said: "Mooring charges for berth holders went up 25 per cent last year and 17 per cent this. When you look at the rise for visiting yachts, I do think we have been unfairly picked on.

"Why can't we see the contribution Condor makes to the finances?"

Council spokesman for finance and resources Kay Wilcox said Weymouth harbour's visiting yacht charges compare favourably with other ports around the country, but berth holder charges did not. She said: "All we have been trying to do is bring our charges into line with other harbours."