ONE of the New Forest's top politicians is backing the Daily Echo campaign to save the Hythe Ferry.

Maureen Robinson, pictured, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group on the district council, said people were "outraged" at the threat to the service.

The vital link, used by 400,000 passengers a year, is under threat from plans to increase its business rates by 740 per cent.

White Horse Ferries, which has operated the service since 1994, says the route could be axed within months if the huge hike is imposed.

A Daily Echo petition opposing the increase has been delivered to shops in the Hythe area and is set to produce a huge response.

Councillor Robinson, who represents Hythe on the council, said the ferry service was essential.

She added: "It attracts visitors to Hythe and is, therefore, very important to the viability of shops and other businesses in the town centre.

"Two years ago we launched a successful campaign to save the Hythe market and many of those who signed our petition were Southampton people who come across on the ferry."

Cllr Robinson said a boat trip to Hythe and back was a good day out.

She added: "Who wants to sit in a traffic jam on the Redbridge Causeway when they could be enjoying a ferry ride across Southampton Water, followed by a train trip along Hythe Pier?

"We had some people down from London a month ago and they were absolutely fascinated by the pier train."

Cllr Robinson warned that even more vehicles would use the notoriously busy roads between Hythe and Southampton if the ferry were forced to close.

The threat to the heavily subsidised service emerged when the Valuation Office Agency said it planned to increase the company's annual business rates bill from £1,459.20 to £12,257.25 following a review.

Cllr Robinson added: "It seems silly to be giving the ferry company public money with one hand and taking it away with the other."