KILCREGGAN'S MSP has called on Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) to take action to improve the community's ferry service after local passengers experienced further disruption.

Services were cancelled because of a technical problem on the morning of Monday, June 12 - just days after a week-long suspension when inspectors found "several serious defects" with the vessel used on the route.

Jackie Baillie wrote to SPT outlining her concerns after the week-long disruption - but before the additional suspension at the beginning of last week.

Replying to Ms Baillie, SPT's assistant chief executive, Eric Stewart, called the disruption "deeply regrettable".

Ms Baillie said that SPT must provide assurances about active maintenance and continuity of service.

She said: "The Kilcreggan ferry is a lifeline service for many local residents and passengers urgently need reassurance from SPT that the vessel is being actively maintained to provide continuity of service.

“It is completely unacceptable that the vessel was allowed to get into such a poor state that the service was withdrawn for almost a week.

"It is also concerning that services were cancelled again just a matter of days after they were restored due to further technical faults.

“The assistant chief executive of SPT has informed me that he will be meeting with the operator soon and it is vital that he demands a guarantee on behalf of passengers that the vessel will be properly maintained to avoid this happening again in future.”

An SPT spokesperson said: “SPT has met with the ferry operator to discuss the recent disruption and a number of measures will be put in place to help avoid a recurrence."

The ferry used by operators Clydelink, MV Island Princess, was withdrawn from service on June 1 after inspectors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency found "several serious defects" with the ship.

The MCA revealed that the ferry was detained on that day after being found “in a poor state of repair”.

And because the SPT contract with Clydelink does not require a back-up ferry to be available, people travelling between Kilcreggan and Gourock were forced to use a replacement bus service.

Though the bus service was free of charge, it covered the 50-mile route in up to 90 minutes, compared to the usual 13-minute ferry crossing.

The ferry eventually returned to service on June 7 after further inspections by MCA officials.