The Tribunal de Commerce decided its future after the European Commission ruled that a 200m Euros (£176m) bailout by the French government was illegal.

The court said the offer by a cooperative of SeaFrance employees was not acceptable.

A SeaFrance spokesman said almost 130 jobs would be lost in Dover.

Conservative MP for Dover and Deal Charlie Elphicke said the announcement was a "real concern" for the port and the people of Dover.

Eurotunnel has not ruled out a future bid for the cross-channel ferry firm, which employs nearly 1,000 people.