AN Isle of Wight businessman is hoping to one day bring seaplane services back to Southampton and the Solent following the success of his operations in Greece.

Walter Stark, the vice president of AirSea Lines, said yesterday the idea of bringing a commercial seaplane business back to the south coast was certainly a possibility and one the company was looking into.

Currently AirSea operate flights in Greece using 19-seat DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, offering short hop services between inaccessible Greek islands.

However the firm is now hoping to expand its three-year-old business in the UK, and is already looking at the potential of commercial services between London and Cumbria and Wales, with flights departing from the Thames and landing on lakes at the destination.

Mr Stark said AirSea Lines hoped to have ten commercial services running by the time the London Olympics arrive in 2012, offering a low-cost and speedy way for travellers to get around the country.

He added: "We would love to run services out of the Solent."

The Solent was the centre of the world's seaplane services during the 1940s and 50s, with operator Aquila using Sunderland flying boats to carry passengers all over the world, including to Maderia and even Australia.