87 stranded as passenger ferry runs aground

Eighty-seven people have been stranded aboard a passenger ferry that ran aground shortly after leaving port.

Eighty-seven people have been stranded aboard a passenger ferry that ran aground shortly after leaving port.

The incident happened at about 4.30am when the Larne ferry, the P&O European Pioneer, became stuck in a channel outside Fleetwood in Lancashire.

A spokesman for the Liverpool Coastguard said that none of the people aboard were at risk, adding they would remain on board until the ship was refloated.

The spokesman said the vessel had not sustained any detectable damage, and there was no pollution or indication there would be any pollution.

A spokesman for P&O Ferries said that none of the 87 on board wre putat risk when the ship ran aground within minutes of leaving Fleetwood Harbour at 4.30am.

He hoped the ferry would refloat itself at the next tide - shortly before midday - and continue on its seven-hour journey to the Northern Irish port of Larne.