As a QFI at RAF Woodvale I seem to recall a C172??? operating off the beach during the summer season (or is my gin soaked brain playing tricks on me??). At about the same time some enterprising individual tried to set up a hovercraft service across the Ribble, which due to not hearing about any more, I assume, failed.
The hovercraft service I remember from the early 1970's was with a Saunders Roe SRN-2; My parents took the family on the hovercraft trip over to Blackpool as part of the day out to southport. Shame it failed but I can understand why; I think there were only a few passengers on the trip we took.
My first light aircraft flight was on the same tripacer on another occasion. Ahh memories!
EGGP