Engine fault on Sunday-sail ferry

The Isle of Lewis sails between Ullapool and Stornoway

An engine problem has hit the ferry scheduled to be used on the first Sunday sailing from the mainland to Lewis in the Western Isles.

The MV Isle of Lewis runs the route from Ullapool to Stornoway.

Operator Caledonian MacBrayne said at 1600 BST the fault affecting an exhaust on one of its engines would take 48 hours to fix.

The company said the Sunday service was not at risk. The MV Isle of Arran is being redeployed from Islay.

The breakdown comes on one of the busiest days in one of the busiest weeks of the year for tourism in Lewis.

Final trip

Plans to operate the Sunday service have been opposed by The Lord's Day Observance Society and council leaders on the islands.

Sabbattarians argued that Sunday must be strictly observed as a day of rest.

A spokesman said the Sunday service will operate, but the timetable maybe subject to change.

It was planned to follow the timetable of the Saturday afternoon sailing - departing Stornoway at 1430 BST to arrive in Ullapool at 1730 BST then leaving at 1815 BST arriving back in Stornoway at 2100 BST.

CalMac said alternative arrangements were being made to take passengers to and from Lewis following the failure of the Isle of Lewis.

BBC Scotland understands that about 100 vehicles were waiting to be picked up from Ullapool on the west coast of the mainland, from where the service sails.

Travellers leaving Lewis have been told to go to Tarbert on Harris and take the ferry to Uig on Skye.

Passengers in Ullapool have also been told to join the ferry at Uig.

The problem comes as music fans have been heading for the islands for the Hebridean Celtic Festival.