Jersey news – live: Royal Navy warships stood down as French fishing boats leave St Helier after protest

(Jersey Evening Post / SWNS)

French fishing vessels are now sailing away from St Helier in Jersey following a protest over post-Brexit fishing rights. Several dozen small craft took part in the demonstration on Thursday morning.

France’s navy dispatched two coastal patrol vessels to monitor the protest, while Britain deployed two Royal Navy ships, HMS Severn and HMS Tamar, to conduct a similar task.

However, despite rising tensions, the UK will “absolutely not” go to war with France over the fishing dispute, Jersey’s foreign minister has said.

Ian Gorst told TalkRadio threats from Paris about cutting off Jersey’s electricity were “totally disproportionate to the technical issues” of implementing Brexit, but that diplomatic solutions were needed.

On Thursday he said he had “positive” talks with the French fishing crews.

• UK to send ships to Jersey amid fears over threat of blockade by French fishermen

• UK blasts ‘unacceptable’ threats by France to cut Jersey’s electricity supply in fishing dispute

• France threatens to cut off Jersey’s electricity as ‘retaliation’ amid Brexit fishing row