Chain ferry warning over 'threatening' of staff

The ferry was suspended for about an hour on Wednesday due to a technical fault

Staff on a chain ferry were subjected to threatening behaviour after it was suspended due to a technical fault, its operator has said.

The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company said the Sandbanks - Swanage chain ferry was suspended for about an hour on Wednesday evening.

"Unfortunately, during the temporary suspension, members of our staff were subject to verbal abuse and threatening behaviour from several passengers," it said.

It said the incident was "extremely upsetting" for the staff involved and had been reported to police.

The ferry, Bramble Bush Bay, crosses between Sandbanks and Shell Bay daily - twice an hour, each way.

The company said staff were being supported following Wednesday's incident.

"We hope by raising awareness of this issue such incidents will not happen in the future," it said.

"Please be assured that, for the wellbeing of all, any future incidents of this nature will result in immediate preventative action, and offenders may be banned from using our service."

It added that the technical fault had been resolved, and the ferry service was continuing to run as normal.