AN OUTER Hebrides ferry is being taken out of service for essential repairs.

Passengers intending to travel between Lochboisdale on South Uist and Mallaig on the mainland next week are being advised that the service is being suspended for a short period due to maintenance on MV Lord of the Isles.

The vessel will depart from Lochboisdale on schedule for Oban at 6am on Monday. It will then sail from Oban to dry dock in Greenock for unscheduled repairs needed after routine inspections by the ship’s engineers discovered a thinning section of steelwork.

Additional early-morning and late-evening services are being put in place on the Sound of Barra while the repair work is carried out.