A new ferry service between Ireland - and the west of France and northern Spain has been announced.

LD Ferries will operate the route between Rosslare in Co. Wexford and St Nazaire on the west coast of France and Gijon in northern Spain.

It follows the recent announcement of a new Irish Ferries route from Dublin to Cherbourg.

The Minister for Transport and Tourism Leo Varadkar says the new routes will help grow ferry tourism into Ireland and encourage more driving holidays.