COASTAL Steamer MV Balmoral will sail again across the Bristol Channel this year and it has Penarth to thank.

Penarth Town Council was the only local authority in the area to respond to calls for support by providing a £1,000 donation which was welcomed as a fantastic gesture in such difficult economic times.

Balmoral supporters have managed to raise more than £300,000 from public donations and were awarded a £344,000 Coastal Communities Grant in January this year.

After three years being laid up at Bristol, the classic vessel will return against the odds to serve passengers once again next week in what has been labelled a 'minor miracle'.

It will undertake a total of 43 days of sailing from Penarth over the coming summer months.

Weighing in at 736 tons, she can carry up to 691 passengers at a time and has taken over two million in her career.

There will be three special short cruises run on Father's Day (June 21) operating throughout the day.

But there are still great challenges ahead for the vessel which is reliant on good passenger numbers and weather to keep her afloat.

She is desperately in need of support to contribute towards her running costs, her winter lay-up and next year's travels.

Spokesperson for the Balmoral Paul Doubler said: “It has been something of a miracle to return Balmoral to cruising this summer, but we are not 'home and dry' yet.

"We have to have great public support to make a very costly to run ship viable. It would be tragic if in this our first season back a combination perhaps of poor weather and low passenger numbers affect her long-term future.”

He went on to say how the Balmoral would provide a great benefit to Penarth's local economy in return for the town's continued support.

Mr Doubler said: "The cry is for passengers, friends, families, work groups, in fact anybody and everybody, just come on a cruise from a port or pier near you to experience the joys of the Welsh and UK Coastline from the sea."

For tickets, details, prices and times for June, July and August go to www.whitefunnel.co.uk, call 0117 325 6200 or visit Penarth Pier pavilion where tickets will also be on sale.