Members of the public and the media have bombarded the firm with calls, fishing for information of Great White sightings from the company's ships, since the sharks were reported in UK waters.

The Times helpfully printed a shark identification chart. Not to be outdone, The Sun splashed 'Der-dum Der-dum' over its front page, evoking the Jaws movie music.

"As a result our phones haven't stopped," said Brian Rees, shark spokesman for P&O Ferries. "With routes to France, Holland, Belgium and Spain people realise we are possibly in a unique position to say whether Great Whites have arrived."

Rising to the bait, P&O Ferries offers the following shark identification tip. "It's easy," says Rees. "Great Whites are confused with Basking sharks as both have white bellies. Just peek at the teeth - a Great White has rows of razor-sharp knashers for ripping prey apart. A Basking shark doesn't."

3 August 2007