THE Sandbanks chain ferry will make its final crossing for two months on Sunday, September 21, as it closes for maintenance work.

The ferry is shutting down so major repairs can be made to both slipways and the ferry itself can be overhauled.

The vessel is taken to Southampton for the work every two years, usually in November, but this year the slipway repairs will mean a longer closure than usual.

Nick Purchase, assistant manager of the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company, which operates the service, said it had been many years since the slipways had any substantial work done to them.

The smooth completion of the project is governed by the weather, and, if recent downpours are anything to go by, a delay to the estimated reopening date of November 17 could be a possibility.

Mr Purchase added: "They did promise us an Indian summer, so we're hoping for that. We will have to see how the weather goes, really."

He apologised for the inconvenience, but stressed that the work was necessary.

"It's essential repairs, so there's not much we can do about it. It's in our interests to get back as soon as possible."

Businesses in Sandbanks, Studland and Swanage are bracing themselves for the effects of the closure.

Swanage Chamber of Trade secretary Bob McGhee said: "Some are expecting the worst and some are shrugging their shoulders.

"Normally this time of year we get quite a lot of older people in by bus and the like and a good number of those come across on the ferry. Whether they will continue to do so going around Wareham we will wait and see, but we think probably not."

The closure will inevitably send more cars down the A351 past Wareham, but the town's Chamber of Trade chairman, Mark Howlett, said the ferry closure offered little benefit.

He said: "If anything there's a bit of a downside to it with the extra traffic."

Keep up to date with the project at sandbanksferry.co.uk or call 01929 450203.