Demonstrators attempt P&O Cairnryan port blockade

Demonstrators gathered at the entrance to the ferry terminal at Cairnryan

Demonstrators have attempted to blockade the main entrance to P&O Ferries' Cairnryan terminal.

The protest - organised by the RMT union - is over the company's sacking of 800 workers across the UK in March.

Two bus loads of protesters arrived from Glasgow to join a small group that had already gathered at the Dumfries and Galloway site.

Police were on the scene at the ferry terminal near Stranraer before the protest began.

A similar protest was taking place at the same time at the company's Larne port in Northern Ireland.

The union said it would be urging passengers at the site to boycott P&O services.

Unions have been urging people to boycott P&O services

P&O sacked hundreds of staff last month via a video call with plans to replace them with cheaper agency staff.

It has prompted a string of protests, a number of them at its site in Dumfries and Galloway.

P&O ferries were suspended for several weeks between Scotland and Northern Ireland before a full service finally resumed.

However, they were hit by further issues earlier this week when the European Causeway lost power and required a safety inspection.

It has since resumed operation.