WHEN her hotel guests have time on their hands, Debbie Oats always knows exactly what to suggest.

A trip on the Hythe Ferry never disappoints visitors at one of Southampton's most prominent hotels.

Debbie is assistant manager at the Travelodge in Lodge Road and is regularly asked for tips on what to see and do in the area.

"It's a lovely little trip," said Debbie, who has worked at the hotel for the past five years. "I always recommend it, especially in the summer, because I think it is excellent value for money.

"You get to go on the boat, then take the train down the pier and walk around the village. There aren't many trips like that that people can do anywhere else.

"Everyone who has done it says what a lovely trip it was and how beautiful Hythe is."

Debbie believes that the Hythe Ferry, which runs between Southampton's Town Quay and the Waterside village, is one of the few tourist attractions that the city has to offer.

She said: "If they take the Hythe Ferry away, it's one more tourist attraction that we have lost and I think that would be a great shame. We can't afford to lose tourist things here."

Debbie said that many of the other trips she suggests are not within Southampton itself because the city's few attractions, such as the Tudor House Museum, are often shut.

Lymington, the New Forest, Hamble or even Portsmouth, with its rich naval history, are all near the top of her 'must see' list.

"We are having to send visitors out of Southampton, and not keeping them within the city is not great for tourism," she added.

Ferry bosses have warned that the historic service is in jeopardy after business rates soared. White Horse Ferries says spiralling bills threaten to cost it thousands of extra pounds, which it cannot afford to pay.

For more on the battle to save Hythe's ferry and the opportunity to download a copy of the petition - click the 'Campaigns' link on the left of this page.