The world�s last sea-going paddle steamer suffered a major setback at the start of its summer season after crashing into a landing pier on the Clyde.

The world's last sea-going paddle steamer suffered a major setback at the start of its summer season after crashing into a landing pier on the Clyde.

The Waverley has been taken out of service after it suffered major damage while berthing at Dunoon on a short sail from Rothesay.

Clyde Coastguard said the accident on Friday had caused considerable damage to the steamer, which is now under repair at James Watt Dock in Greenock.

The boat had around 700 passengers on board the time, most of whom were elderly.

Twelve passengers received minor injuries during the crash and received treatment by a doctor at the scene.

A spokesman for Clyde Coastguard said it was unclear what had caused the crash, which happened at around 4pm, but said that strong wind could have played a part.

A note on the Waverley Excursions website said the vessel had "landed heavily" while berthing at Dunoon.

It said: "While berthing at Dunoon the Paddle Steamer Waverley landed heavily on the Pier.

"There were passengers on board, 12 of whom sustained very minor injuries which were attended to by a doctor."

One eyewitness who was standing the pier at the time of the accident described how passengers were thrown off their feet during the accident.

He said: "He brought her in okay but she came in too hard and smashed into the concrete breakwater. The force was unbelievable.

"One woman was concussed and had to be taken off the boat in a wheelchair."

A jazz cruise, due to take place on Friday evening, has been postponed while assessments are made of the damage to the ship, and a trip from Glasgow due to take place on Saturday with 650 passengers was also cancelled.

The crash is a further blow to the paddle steamer, built on the River Clyde in 1947, after delays to renovation work on Largs pier put a fresh cloud over the vessel's future.

Iain MacLeod, of the vessel's owners, the Waverley Steam Navigation Company, has written to his MSP asking him to press for government action to speed up work at the Ayrshire resort.

Largs supplies around 11,000 passengers over the summer season.

The renovation of the pier, which dates from 1845, is costing £6m.

Earlier this year the charity which runs the vessel was forced to make a public appeal for donations after suffering a drop in income of about £600,000 in 2008 following soaring fuel costs and bad weather.

Their cash reserves were also wiped out after the owners had to pay to repair the paddle wheel and take the ship out of the water for six weeks during its busy season.

Waverley's 40,000 regular supporters responded by raising £250,000 to keep it afloat in 2009.

The vessel, which is registered to carry 925 passengers, was built in 1946 as a replacement for an earlier Waverley that was sunk in 1940 helping with the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk.

The new 693-tonne steamer was launched in October 1946 at builders A and J Inglis, Glasgow, and entered service in June 1947.

She was built for the London and North Eastern Railway Company to sail on their Firth of Clyde steamer fleet.