Cowes Floating Bridge returns to service

The Floating Bridge on the Isle of Wight was pulled from service on Monday evening

A chain ferry is back in action after flooding is thought to have caused debris to stop its chains working.

The Floating Bridge, which runs between Cowes and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, was pulled from service on Monday evening.

Isle of Wight Council carried out repairs and originally said it would return to service by 12:00 GMT, but it took until 18:00.

The £3.2m ferry has had numerous issues since being introduced.

On Tuesday the council said the issue was down to the "chain tensions in the chain pits" which were "impeding the movement" of the chains.

"It is likely that the recent floods etc. have carried debris into the chain pits that have fouled the movement of the chains," it explained.

It said the process involved "cleaning out the pits" and it would then "re-tension the chains".

This took place on Wednesday, with tests afterwards at different tide levels.

A replacement launch service ran for foot passengers and cyclists while the bridge was unavailable.

It was also out of action for a month over the summer due to a software fault which cost Isle of Wight Council £112,000 in repair costs and lost revenue.

The suspension period included Cowes Week, a sailing event attracting thousands of people to the island.

The council said afterwards it undertook "preventative" maintenance works, designed to reduce further downtime in the future.

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