Ferry services disrupted due to strong winds

Ferry services across Scotland have been disrupted as strong winds lash the country.

Gusts of 82mph were recorded in South Uist after a national yellow weather warning came into force at 07:00. It will be in place until 21:00 on Sunday.

P&O Ferries' services between Cairnryan and Larne in Northern Ireland will stop from 20:00, having already been called off on Sunday.

Almost all CalMac ferries are facing disruption, with Largs-Millport, Mallaig-Oban and Ullapool-Stornoway among the routes cancelled entirely.

A number of services operated by Northlink Ferries, between Aberdeen and the Orkney and Shetland Isles, have also fallen foul of the weather.

All ferries crossing the Pentland Firth have been cancelled for Saturday and Sunday, while Stena Line has axed a number of crossings between Cairnryan and Belfast.

Meanwhile, wind gusts were recorded of 81mph in Kirkwall and 77mph in Stornoway.

Speed restrictions and cancellations

P&O Ferries had already announced there would be no Sunday services until 20:00, but brought the cancellations forward to Saturday night due to the weather.

A spokesperson for the operator said: "Due to adverse weather conditions, all P&O Ferries sailings between Larne and Cairnryan have been cancelled from 20:00 tonight until at least 20:00 tomorrow night.

"We ask our customers please not to travel to either of the ports if their sailing has been cancelled, to avoid causing traffic congestion."

The company advised customers to manage their bookings online or by calling them.

In an online statement CalMac said that the arrival of the windy weather meant "some of our services may be delayed or cancelled throughout our network, to ensure the safety of customers and colleagues, which is our priority."

It advised passengers to follow the company's social media accounts for the latest travel information.

Rail operator ScotRail confirmed speed restrictions may be put in place on some routes throughout the weekend.

The yellow warning currently covers all of Scotland, the North of England, parts of Wales and parts of Northern Ireland.

It will then be extended to cover further parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Sunday.