A MECHANICAL problem left the Sandbanks Ferry stranded yesterday afternoon and evening, forcing would-be passengers to take a 25 mile road journey.

The Bramble Bush Bay was stuck on the Poole side of the popular route for several hours while engineers tried to fix the fault.

Signs were put up at the entrance to the peninsula to warn drivers the ferry was out of service, but some still made their way to North Haven Point to double check. The hourly Wilts and Dorset buses were diverted from lunchtime until the service ended in the evening, using the Poole and Wareham route that they take when the ferry is closed for maintenance in the winter.

John Clarke, who has owned the Haven Ferry Shop at Sandbanks for the last 40 years, said: “I didn’t know immediately, but I thought it had gone a bit quiet. It’s like a ghost town.

“Usually a lot of regulars come in for odds and ends, particularly ice-cream. When they brought the ferry up to the slipway, there was damage to the ramp.

“It’s sad but it can’t be helped.

“Buses come down, turn around and go the long way around.”

Bronwen Jakeman, assistant manager of the Shell Bay Restaurant, said: “We would normally be busy, although it is weather dependent as well.

“We shut at 12.30pm.

“We had customers booked in who rang from the other side saying they couldn’t get across. All our staff were that side as well.”

Normal service was resumed about 6.20pm, with customers informed on the ferry company’s website.

The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company has been operating the “floating bridge” chain ferry since 1926. Capacity has increased by 220 per cent since the service started. Bramble Bush Bay – in operation since 1994 – is the fourth vessel on the route and holds up to 48 cars.