ONE of the Solent's newest and fastest sights has disappeared from the water only a month after coming into service.

The Hovertravel craft Solent Express has raced the 530 miles up to Edinburgh to see if it can open up new routes around the Firth of Forth in a two-week trial.

The hovercraft, which can travel at speeds of up to 45knots, left its south coast berth yesterday morning and had to refuel twice along the way before arriving in the Scottish capital shortly after 9pm.

While there it will run a trial service between Portobello in Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy for the operator Stagecoach, which it is hoped will drastically cut the current journey time which involves driving across the Forth Bridge.

During its absence from its normal Solent route from Ryde Hoverport to Southsea, a route it only started on June 7, Hovertravels two other hovercraft will continue to provide a ten-minute service.