Irish Ferries hails end of strike

The dispute was over plans to use crews from outside Ireland

Ferry services between Wales and Ireland are resuming after a 10-day strike by Irish Ferries workers came to an end.

A statement on the company's website said that full service would resume over the next few days "well in time for Christmas".

Sailings between Dublin and Holyhead and Rosslare and Pembroke Dock have been suspended since Monday 6 December.

Ships' officers union Siptu was behind the action.

It was in dispute with Irish Ferries over plans to crew its services to France with staff from outside the Republic.

The first service was due to sail from Dublin to Holyhead at 0900 GMT, with a return sailing from Holyhead at 1430 GMT, depending on weather conditions.

During the strike, hundreds of staff marched on Ireland's parliament in Dublin in protest.

On Wednesday, Irish Ferries said the end of the action came "following intervention by the National Implementation Body of Ireland".

The firm also apologised to all customers "for the stress and annoyance caused by this dispute".

Irish Ferries has said the first sailing from Dublin is at 0900 GMT on Thursday, and the first sailing from Pembroke will be at 1430 GMT.