Any hopes of a ferry service returning to Weymouth have been rejected by the harbour master.

At a meeting of the Dorset Council Harbours Committee, Keith Howorth, Weymouth's Harbour Master, was asked if there were any ongoing discussions about bringing back a ferry service to Weymouth Harbour.

Mr Howorth said that there are no such discussions underway, and that his priority is to work on making the quay a leisure destination rather than a ferry port.

His statement dashes hopes of ferry services being returned to Weymouth for the first time since Condor Ferries moved its operations to Poole in 2015.

This ferry service moved from Weymouth after the harbour was deemed unsuitable for the firm's larger ferry despite a £4m investment from the former borough council to refurbish a berth in the harbour.

At the Dorset Council meeting, Mr Howorth outlined the harbour's major projects for the year.

One of the largest and most significant items on the list was the Quay Regeneration Project, which was made possible through a successful bid for £3.79m from the Coastal Communities Fund.

The Weymouth Quay Regeneration Project will see the development of a multi-purpose harbour building, which will offer services including: facilities for boat crews, space for boat charter businesses, secure storage, and bookable training spaces and meeting rooms.

It also includes plans for new pontoons and a pedestrian walkway around the Peninsula.

Dorset Council’s Executive Director of Place, John Sellgren, said: "This project has been a really great example of collaborative working between the borough council and the community. I would like to thank the outgoing borough council for their efforts and financial support of £2.9m committed towards this project. We look forward to delivering an exciting and ambitious scheme for this area of the town."

As well as the Quay Regeneration Project, other major projects include work on the harbour walls - especially the area in front of the Pavilion - which are in need of repair due to their age.

Mr Howorth said: "The harbour walls are coming to the end of their lives."

Further projects for Weymouth Harbour this year include work to tidy up the Pleasure Pier and further dredging work.