Passengers escape blaze on ferry

Passengers were told to get off the ferry as quickly as possible

Passengers on a ferry were told to get off "as quickly as possible" after a fire broke out during a crossing.

The blaze started in the port engine of the FastCat Wightlink service from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight.

Emergency services were called at 1632 BST on Tuesday but the ferry's carbon dioxide (CO2) system had put out most of the flames when it reached Ryde.

None of the 85 passengers were injured. Wightlink has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Passenger Tori Coles said: "We were asked to stand as far forward on the boat as possible with a strong smell of fuel and burning.

"As we got to land we were told to get off as quick as possible where there were emergency vehicles waiting.

"A firefighter told me there had been an engine fire onboard."

Wightlink said the Lady Pamela ferry was still running but sailings would be slightly delayed.