CARGO ships using Teignmouth face a 20 per cent hike in fees.

The increase has been forced on the harbour commission to help fill a black hole of £631.6 million in the pilots' pension fund.

Teignmouth harbourmaster Cmdr David Vaughan said the harbour authority did not have enough reserves to meet Teignmouth's share of more than £500,000, and it would have to be passed on to the shipping companies.

'We hope they all understand our predicament and stay with Teignmouth.

'All the harbour authorities in the country have to share the burden, but the bigger ones may absorb some or all of the cost.