Severe weather conditions may hamper Orkney and Shetland travellers

FERRY passengers trying to travel to Orkney and Shetland for Christmas face cancellations as severe weather batters the islands.

Operator Serco NorthLink is in the process of contacting customers booked on services up to Christmas to advise them most sailings are likely to be cancelled.

Freight services are also being disrupted.

The Pentland Firth crossing continues to run as scheduled and Serco NorthLink are advising customers to travel via this route where possible.

Services today were cancelled.

There remains a chance that north and southbound services will operate on Friday.

Managing director Stuart Garrett said: “We continue to monitor weather forecasts while working hard to contact all those booked on ferries between Aberdeen and the Northern Isles.

“Prolonged storms of this severity are unusual and we understand this is extremely disappointing news for people. However our priority is the safety of our passengers and crew and we will not sail unless it is safe to do so.”