HIGH winds forced the Sandbanks Ferry to end its service early on Tuesday evening.

With stormy weather continuing late into the night, the operators of the Bramble Bush Bay chain vessel, which completes the crossing to Studland and back, stopped the service shortly before 9pm, more than two hours earlier than normally scheduled.

A spokesperson for the Sandbanks Ferry said: "Due to high winds the Sandbanks Ferry has had to suspend service for the remainder of the evening.

"We hope to resume normal service in the morning, weather permitting."

Forecasters are expecting winds to remain at Force 6 overnight, along with prolonged downpours.